‘Uncle, IPL ka pass dila dijiye...please!’

Fans of KL Rahul-led Lucknow Super Giants are scrambling for passes as the city prepares to host its first ever Indian Premier League match on 17 April. The stadium has a capacity of 50,000 and it is estimated that between 5,000 and 8,000 passes will be issued by the franchisee. The tickets range from INR499 ($7) to INR18,000 for corporate boxes.

Lucknow is set to host its first ever IPL match on Saturday and KL Rahul-led Lucknow Super Giants fans are leaving no stone unturned to throng the stadiums, support the host team and witness the high-octane 20-20 series.

Lucknow Super Giants team during a practice session at Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium

The ‘pass culture’ is at its peak with people trying the best ‘jugaad’ to procure the passes. Government officials, sportspersons and stadium authorities are in immense pressure receiving calls from family members, friends and acquaintances for pass requests.

Ekana Sports City managing director Udai Sinha says, “The pressure for passes is huge. Since BCCI is not directly linked and it’s all in the hands of franchisee, as they have taken the stadium on rent, so we are a bit relaxed. But yes, we have to oblige people, so manage toh karna padta hai. Also, there are seven matches so it can be divided. There is immense demand for (MS Dhoni) Chennai, (Virat Kohli) Bengaluru and (Rohit Sharma) Mumbai matches.”

The tickets range between ₹499- ₹900 for stands, ₹3,500 onwards for president’s gallery with food coupons and for boxes and director’s lawns starting at ₹7,500 with full hospitality and ranging upto ₹18,000 for corporate boxes. The stadium has a capacity of 50,000 and it’s estimated that passes in range of 5,000-8000 will be issued by the franchisee.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Chiranjeev Nath Sinha tells, “We are getting several requests regarding passes but we have them in limited numbers. We are trying to accommodate more and more people.”

Hospitality professional Shavez Ahmad, who has been trying for passes, says, “It’s getting super challenging to get passes for matches that have my favourite players. I have asked my cousin whose friend is working on an administrative profile, to help us obtain passes for match between last year’s winner (Gujarat Titans) and No 3 team (LSG).”

Cricket buff Varshika Patrick, student of LU undergraduate course, says, “A girl cricket fan always takes others by surprise. I have been coaxing my father, an officer posted in Unnao, to either take me to Mumbai-Lucknow match or arrange for passes so I could attend it with my friends. I am sure he will manage and Lucknow will lift trophy this year.

Uttar Pradesh sports director and former India Hockey captain RP Singh says, “Here everyone knows you, so from sportsmen to government officials and acquaintances everyone feels sports director must be having passes. Even kids in family call up and say, ‘Uncle, pass dilwa dijiye...please’. It’s very tough to manage. For some I had to buy and oblige. Yahan par pass ka kuch zyada culture bhi hai, no one wants to buy ticket.”

Former Team India player Gyanendra Pandey tells that being a cricketer and a known figure in state he has to purchased tickets and given as pass. “It’s true that I do have passes but can’t oblige all. You can explain it to your close ones but at the same time you can’t say no to all. I literally have bought passes for many.”

Government employee Mudassar Zaidi is set to keep up with the tradition of watching at least one match of his favourite team Chennai Super Kings live. “Even before Lucknow had its own team, me and my group supported Chennai...so we make it a point to somehow watch them live, once. This year too we want to watch them playing in our city and so I had to ask a few people around who could arrange the passes,” he shares.