Can you get me a ticket for an IPL match at one of the UAE venues?

By K.R. Nayar 

No one is sure of getting tickets for the IPL including Sourav Ganguly, President of the BCCI. Here is what my cricket-crazy friend, who wanted a ticket to watch the IPL even before the final decision has been made on permitting spectators into the stadium, had to say.

IPL tickets have always been in high demand 

I have a cricket- crazy friend who calls me as soon as something sensational happens in cricket. He often stuns me with his questions, which at times are such that I would never imagine he would ask. I recently got this call from him as soon as news of the Emirates Cricket Board receiving the Letter of Intent from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was released. 

Like many people who rarely wait for a response after the customary Hello and start talking right away, this friend asked me: “Can you get me a ticket for an Indian Premier League (IPL) match at one of the UAE venues?”

When I reminded him that the decision on whether spectators will be permitted is still pending, like an expert he said: “Did you know that IPL was to be called Indian People’s League? So the BCCI will surely want spectators at the stadium to watch the matches. The name was changed to Indian Premier League because when some businessmen other than the Zee TV channel owner, who started the Indian Cricket League, were considering starting other leagues, the BCCI decided to name it the Indian Premier League so that no league would be bigger than this one.”  I told him that I was completely unaware of all this.  Then he tells me: “I pity you. Despite being a cricket journalist you don’t have information about these things.”

IPL fans queue in Bengaluru before a match 

I got back to the ticket issue and told him that I wasn’t sure about getting him a ticket. His response was: “You have reported most of Sourav Ganguly’s matches and know him well, so why can’t you ask him? Anyhow, please wait for a few days before you ask him because one does not know whether the court will permit him to continue as President of BCCI. If not, he too might have to ask someone else if he needs a ticket.”

I was happy that he had the answer to his own question. But then he quickly added. “You must be knowing Brijesh Patel, Chairman of the IPL Governing Council, well, isn’t it? His beard resembles the mask when people wear it on their chin rather than covering their nose. Fortunately, he still has some time before his term expires and the court asks him to go.”

Before I could respond on whether I would be able to ask Patel, he continued: “If you give me a ticket it can contribute to improving the happiness index of the UAE.” I wanted to know how that would happen. He said: “I will show off the ticket to all my friends and they will all be happy for me.”

Brijesh Patel 

He then expressed his confidence that spectators would be allowed for the matches provided they follow the social distancing rule. “I am ready to follow any social distancing rule, but I would also like to meet Anushka Sharma, who may come with her husband Virat Kohli, atleast from a distance.”

'Whistle Podu' banner of Chennai Super Kings 

His next question to me: “Do you know Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will be badly hit for lack of support from their fans?” I wasn’t sure what he meant. So he clarified: “You know their slogan to gain support is ‘whistle podu’. But no one in the stadium will be able to whistle with their mask on. And even if their fans from Chennai, who would be watching them on television, whistle from their homes, that will not be heard in the UAE.” 

Right away he had a solution for that too. He feels CSK might fly in with actor Rajnikanth. “He is someone who can win them matches without any spectator support, and if need be even without playing the match itself,” he remarked with utmost seriousness.