ICC Begin Ballot Process Today for CWC Semi/Final Tickets

After last weeks ticketing controversy at the kiosks of the Chinnswamy Stadium in which queuing, frenzied fans were beaten by police, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Saturday that a ballot process will be used for the public sale of tickets for the semi-finals and the final.

ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said that there will be a public ballot system similar to that which is used in the majority of global sporting events, which will open today, 28 February.

The website was overloaded when the tickets were initially programmed to go on sale on 21 February due to the demand being so great, however Lorgat gave Kyazoonga.com, the official online ticketing partner a clean slate.

Lorgat said: “It was most unfortunate and no blame should be directed at Kyazoonga, the ICC’s official ticketing partner, as no one could have anticipated that tens of millions people would be trying to access the site an hour before it went live. In truth Kyazoonga have been an innocent third party in all the issues we have had with ticketing.

“In conjunction with the hosts, we have now agreed that a ballot system is the best means of releasing any available tickets for the semis and final. The high demand clearly proves the massive attraction of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 and format of 50 overs cricket.”

Lorgat continued to downplay the issue regarding the rueful scenes at the Chinnswamy Stadium last Thursday, dismissing media perceptions about a letter addressed to ICC President Sharad Pawar.

Lorgat added: “To help resolve our ticketing challenges we have also engaged the offices of the ICC President Mr Pawar to assist us as he has done with several other issues related to World Cup planning.”

The two semi-finals will be held in Colombo and Mohali on 29 and 30 March respectively, while the final will be held at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on 2 April with the ballot process beginning today.

Fans need to apply for the ICC CWC 2011 Ticket Public Ballot from 28 February 2011 to 6 March 2011 at cwc2011ballot.kyazoonga.com. A ticket limit of two tickets per applicant applies. Only one application per person. Please do not submit more than one form: Kyazoonga will void your applications. On submission of ballot form fans will receive a Ballot Confirmation Number once you complete and submit your application. No up-front payment is required at this stage.

The draw will be made by computer on 10 March 2011 and successful applicants will be informed by email on 11 March 2011. Successful applicants will be able to pay for their tickets through Kyazoonga’s secure payment processing website where they will be shown the transaction amount and asked to pay online using credit card/debit card/net-banking. If transaction is not successful, place in the draw will be offered to the next polled applicant from the draw.

Upon successful payment completion, fans will receive a confirmation page and email, tickets will be made available from the third week of March 2011.