Counterfeit sellers in action at Queen’s Park Oval

Elmo Rodrigopulle in West Indies

WORLD CUP: Any big sporting event - be it the World Cup Football or the Olympics - counterfeit ticket sellers have a field day. It was no different in the World Cup that is now in progress in the West Indies.

The India-Bangladesh game which ended in a thrilling victory for Bangladesh, saw counterfeit ticket sellers playing their own game.

The match watched by a ten thousand strong crowd at the Queen’s Park Oval saw a few counterfeit tickets out on sale. But fortunately it was not a large scale, and the organisers think that this is not going to be a problem.

While the selling of counterfeit tickets would have come as a surprise, the Cricket World Cup has been a ‘little bit of a disaster’ for hoteliers in the country.

The first round games have failed to produce the anticipated occupancy levels.

The matches played so far at Queen’s Park Oval has not seen a full house so far.

The first round games played so far at all venues have failed to draw the crowds. But once the tournament moves on to the super eight, organisers expect a bigger demand for tickets.

With the West Indies aiming to be the first host country to win a World Cup, their win against Pakistan was a stepping stone. But now comes the disturbing news that the Windies players are involved in a contract dispute, which was the least distraction the players needed in their quest for cricket’s one-day biggest prize money.

The disagreement is between the West Indies Cricket Board and the Players Association over unresolved points surrounding the contracts. One hopes that the dispute would be solved to the satisfaction of both sides and that the West Indies cricketers would remain focused and not let the dispute raise its ugly head again till the World Cup is won.

Leg spinner Dan Van Bunge who was mauled by Herchelle Gibbs for six sixes, is facing imminent unemployment after the World Cup.

Bunge has doing a bit of coaching, but after the hammering he took, he fears that the coaching job would not be his. But the boundaries at Warner Park is much shorter compared to the boundaries at other venues.

But a six is six and that is how it will go down in the record books. This is the first time that this feat has been achieved in the World Cup. Previous six sixer hitters were Sir Garfield Sobers and Ravi Shastri who performed this feat in First Class cricket.

Meanwhile, England who were frustrated by their loss to New Zealand by six wickets, have had their players fined for a breach of discipline. No details were available as to why the ban was slapped.

In any sport, discipline is a must. If the England players lack this, then it is a sad indictment on their game.

Trinidad, Sunday