Tickets Priced at Just 50 Taka, Yet Only 34 Sold

Sports Desk

The Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, with a seating capacity of 18,000, saw sparse attendance during the first day of the Test match between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. Despite low ticket prices, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) failed to generate interest, leaving players to perform in a nearly empty stadium.

For this series, the BCB, led by Faruque Ahmed, could not sell broadcasting rights, forcing the matches to be aired on state-run BTV, generating no revenue for the board. Such circumstances have not been witnessed in the last 15–16 years.

The lack of enthusiasm was evident in ticket sales. With prices ranging from 50 to 500 Taka, only 34 tickets were sold on the first day. Including complimentary tickets, around a hundred spectators were present throughout the day.

While fan engagement faltered, politics found its way into cricket. Two stands were named after Abu Saeed and Abu Turab, who were killed during the July movement in Sylhet. Journalists have criticized this decision, calling it irrelevant to sports and suggesting alternative ways to honor them.

On the field, Bangladesh struggled against a weak Zimbabwe side. After electing to bat first, Nazmul Hossain Shanto’s team was bowled out for 191. In response, Zimbabwe ended the day at 67 without loss.