The petitioner has raised a grievance that while the base price for 4 out of 5 matches in Lucknow is set at ₹499, the base price for the India versus England match scheduled on October 29 is set at ₹3,250.
The Allahabad High Court has received a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the disparities in ticket prices for the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 matches at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.
The petitioner pointed out that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has set a base ticket price of 499 rupees for four out of the five cricket matches scheduled to be held in Lucknow from October 12 to November 3. However, for the October 29 match between India and England, the initial ticket price is 3,250 rupees.
Represented by his attorney Piyush Pathak, Vipul Tripathi argued that the differing ticket prices for World Cup matches at the Lucknow stadium lack rationale and violate principles of fairness and reason.
The petition contends that the alleged variation in ticket prices is highly unjust and arbitrary. It further states that despite tickets not yet being available for sale, the initial ticket price for the India-England match in September 2023 was set at 1,500 rupees but has since been increased to 3,250 rupees.
“The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 is being hosted in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, for the first time, and individuals from economically disadvantaged backgrounds are being compelled to purchase tickets at higher rates (over 499 rupees) to watch their own country’s team. Meanwhile, the rest of the matches are being sold starting at 499 rupees. This discrimination and arbitrary action by the concerned parties violate Article 14 of the Constitution of India. Therefore, the intervention of this Hon’ble Court is necessary in the interest of justice,” the petition states.
The petitioner has requested that the BCCI adhere to Rule 24 (10) of its Rules and Regulations, setting the base price for tickets to the October 29 cricket match between India and England at 499 rupees. Additionally, the petition seeks a court directive for the BCCI to review its ticket pricing strategies for Cricket World Cup matches to enhance transparency.
The case is likely to be heard on October 12.
