Satya is a driver with a local travel agency that has a contract to pick up guests from the Bhubaneswar airport. The 38-year-old loves to recall how he comes up with a "strategy" to get a ticket for ODIs since they are sold in black on the last couple of days.
Satya hasn't bothered to find out the ticket rates for the upcoming IPL games though he is aware that the Deccan Chargers are going to play two of their home matches at the Barabati Stadium on March 19 and 21. It's not just Satya. It seems the entire town is yet to wake up to the arrival of the cash-rich carnival and though the Orissa Cricket Association has convinced the Chargers and IPL to have about 20,000 tickets for counter sale --- as against the sale through Internet at other centres — the response is still lukewarm.
One of the reasons for the lack of interest is that people still find it difficult to associate themselves with the team. Cuttack was added to the Chargers roster only after the authorities ruled out games in Hyderabad and Vizag following the Telangana agitation.
However, OCA secretary, Ashirbad Behara, and Chargers' director operations, E Venkat Reddy, are confident that things will look up closer to the opening match on March 19.
{{/usCountry}}However, OCA secretary, Ashirbad Behara, and Chargers' director operations, E Venkat Reddy, are confident that things will look up closer to the opening match on March 19.
{{/usCountry}}"Cuttack falls in our catchment area and we are sure people will come to support us," said Reddy. Behara declined to give figures of ticket sales but insisted that the attendance would be satisfactory.