In a concerning development, the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad is facing scrutiny ahead of the ICC World Cup 2023, with a viral image highlighting the dilapidated state of its seats. This issue has led to an outcry from cricket enthusiasts, who are directing their criticism towards the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA). The stadium, which slated to host a World Cup match in just three days, has found itself in the midst of a controversy.
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The Uppal-based stadium scheduled to host Match 2 of the World Cup, featuring a clash between Pakistan and the Netherlands on October 6. Subsequently, the Dutch team will compete against 2019 finalists New Zealand on October 9, followed by a match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at the same venue a day later.
Troubles surfaced during a recent warm-up match between Pakistan and Australia held at the stadium on Tuesday. Fans who had shelled out as much as ₹1000 for tickets expressed their dissatisfaction with the deplorable condition of the seats. This comes as a disappointment, considering the substantial financial investments made by the Indian cricket board to refurbish the stadiums designated for the World Cup and its warm-up matches.
Reportedly, the BCCI allocated 50 crore Indian Rupees to each World Cup venue for extensive renovations in preparation for the mega-event that commences on October 5. Nevertheless, the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium’s seating arrangements continue to be in a state of disrepair.
As India takes on the sole responsibility of hosting the ODI World Cup for the first time, the BCCI has already faced criticism regarding ticket availability and their pricing, frequent changes in the schedule, delays in Pakistan obtaining visas, and now, the unsettling state of the stadiums. These setbacks are adding to the growing dissatisfaction among cricket fans and enthusiasts, casting a shadow over what should have been a grand sporting spectacle.