"Shame On BCCI" - Fans Slam BCCI As World Cup-Opener Takes Place In Front Of Empty Stadium

The highly-anticipated ICC World Cup 2023 got underway on Thursday (October 5) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

After the organizers decided against organizing an opening ceremony, all eyes were on the opening game of the tournament. The stage was set for a grand opening. Two of the strongest contenders for the World Cup – reigning champions England and New Zealand – were to lock horns in the mouthwatering clash at the world’s largest cricket stadium.

It, however, did not take long for the fans to get disappointed. While a huge crowd was being expected for the first game of the World Cup, the cricketing world was in for a big surprise. The stadium with a seating capacity of 132,000 spectators only had a handful of fans, much to the fans’ disappointment.

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Most of the stands in the huge stadium were empty as spectators. The fans soon took to social media platforms to express their disappointment. While some just blamed the organizers for such a dismal start, some hoped that the number of spectators would increase with the passage of time.

Fans Slam BCCI As World Cup-Opener Takes Place In Front Of Empty Stadium

https://twitter.com/gold_leaf222/status/1709872843268202853?t=_cZbsLb0-WNrT4IVq84cZw&s=19

Where’s the crowd !???

— Danielle Wyatt (@Danni_Wyatt) October 5, 2023

Hopefully after office hours, there should be more people coming in. But for games not featuring Bharat, there should be free tickets for school and college children. With the fading interest in 50 over game, it will definitely help that youngsters get to experience a World Cup…

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) October 5, 2023

Looks like people are still in Book My Show ticket queue and nobody count get into the stadium.

— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) October 5, 2023

This is Ahmedabad empty stadium for icc cricket world cup , worst start of opening match #ENGvsNZ #BCCI pic.twitter.com/9IU9PN4HKo

— Adnan Ali?? (@dani_mitru) October 5, 2023

Tickets were sold out but stadium is empty ?‍♂️ @BCCI #icccricketworldcup2023

— Athiswamy (@athitheboss) October 5, 2023

Itna tanda #wc2023 organized by #BCCI is not expected at all No opening ceremony, No craze, No hype,Worst slogan, Empty stadium even complete ticket sold out@StarSportsIndia
broadcaster has no clue what to show what not. @rawatrahul9
#BCCI

— Irsa Hassan (@irsat666) October 5, 2023

AN EMPTY STADIUM ON AN OPENING MATCH OF BIGGEST INTERNATIONAL CRICKET TOURNAMENT IS SUCH SHAME FOR BCCI.

— IFRAH. (@ifraheree) October 5, 2023

Imagine the level of incompetence in administration one has to achieve to get an empty stadium for Cricket World Cup in India.
Incredible achievement by BCCI.#WorldCup2023

— Shree (@kshreerang_) October 5, 2023

No opening ceremony.
No hype for the worldcup.
Empty stadium for the opening.

Tbvh PCB would've been hosted this tournament more beautifully than the so called richest board.#NarendraModiStadium #BCCI #ENGvsNZ #CWC23 #ENGvNZ pic.twitter.com/EErUhAiczy

— Hira Khan (@hira56khan) October 5, 2023

Opening match of the #icccricketworldcup2023 #ICCCricketWorldCup #ENGvsNZ being played at the ‘Empty Bucket Stadium’. @ICC @BCCI @TheBarmyArmy #Cricket pic.twitter.com/fmkJFVqHRd

— Thomas (@omegaspur) October 5, 2023

Hi @bookmyshow and @BCCI, whom did you sell the tickets if whole stadium is empty!!

As per your website, tickets were sold you but then how whole stadium is empty?

Result of scam is shambolic start to home World Cup!!#ENGvsNZ pic.twitter.com/KwVYEuhPt4

— Rajiv (@Rajiv1841) October 5, 2023

very very disappointing moment for BCCI ? First Match and Stadium is empty from 4 of sides . They claim they love cricket ? #icccricketworldcup2023 #ODIWorldCup2023 #NZvsENG #ENGvsNZ shame on #BCCI #NarendraModiStadium pic.twitter.com/9NTe6YIbQ3

— ???? (@sabanaureen_) October 5, 2023

Jay Shah and BCCI officials after :
– Hosting ODI World Cup Opener of England v New Zealand in an Empty stadium in Ahmedabad with no crowd
– No opening ceremony/Hype in India for biggest festival of Cricket, where they do more for the IPL
– Gross Mismanagement in scheduling &… pic.twitter.com/ifWcCtOjHv

— Vishal Verma (@VishalVerma_9) October 5, 2023

REALLY DISAPPOINTING TO SEE EMPTY AHMEDABAD ?
THE WORLD LARGEST CRICKET STADIUM WITH ULTRA INVISIBLE TECHNOLOGY GREAT,,,,itni awaam kaha sy agai kis golay sy agai,,,,
بھارتی شائیقین کرکٹ نے مایوس کیا#Ahmedabad #jayshah #BCCI #ENGvNZ pic.twitter.com/9LYji2f5zY

— Qadir Khawaja (@iamqadirkhawaja) October 5, 2023

England off to poor start in World Cup opener:

Talking about the World Cup opener, England have made a shaky start to their innings against New Zealand. Both the teams are without some key players for the game. While a hip injury ruled out Ben Stokes, Kane Williamson missed out for New Zealand as he is yet to recover fully for a full ODI match.

Asked to bat first, England were reeling at 112 for 3 in the 20th over at the time of writing this report. Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, and Harry Brook were the dismissed batsmen for England. Joe Root and Moeen Ali were in the middle, fighting it out for the defending champions.

England (Playing XI):

Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler(w/c), Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood

New Zealand (Playing XI):

Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham(w/c), Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner, James Neesham, Matt Henry, Trent Boult