PAUL NEWMAN: The swathes of empty seats for England’s World Cup opener in Ahmedabad was EMBARRASSING for cricket… it was the latest example of governing bodies failing to give any thought to paying spectators

• New Zealand hammered England in the opening game of the Cricket World Cup
• The match was at the Narendra Modi Stadium which has a capacity of 132,000
• Despite a crowd of 47,000, the empty stands were embarrassing for cricket

It was such a bad look. For cricket, for the beleaguered 50-over format and for a World Cup that should still be the biggest showcase event for the white-ball game.

The empty stands at the vast Narendra Modi Stadium when England and New Zealand opened the 13th edition of a tournament that is threatened like never before from the march of the franchises were little short of an embarrassment.

Yes, the biggest cricket ground in the world holds 132,000 and even a half decent crowd – like yesterday’s became if the ICC are right in claiming there were 47,000 spectators by the time New Zealand batted – would seem tiny in such a stadium.

But casual TV spectators who tuned in yesterday morning at the promise of a significant event would have instead been given the impression of a sport, or at least a traditional limited-overs format, in serious decline.

There are, of course, mitigating circumstances and they can be laid firmly at the door of the governing body who so often appear to abuse the privilege of representing the biggest and most cricket mad country in the world.

The swathes of empty seats for England’s World Cup opener against New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad was embarrassing for cricket

The mammoth ground has a capacity of 132,000 and therefore the 47,000 crowd looked tiny

The Board of Control for Cricket in India are so rich and powerful because of their broadcasting billions that they rarely seem to give any thought to paying spectators.

And Thursday’s grand opening of a tournament that they, and not the ICC, have organised seemed to plumb their attitude to new depths.

The venues and dates for World Cup matches have repeatedly changed over the last few months, making it hard enough for locals to plan their day at the cricket let alone the thousands of overseas supporters who would have been put off by the uncertainty.

Tickets, meanwhile, only went on sale 41 days ago and they have been devilishly hard to get, as is India’s wont, with regular reports of the website crashing.

The venues and dates for World Cup games have repeatedly changed over the last few months, making it hard enough for locals to plan their day at the cricket let alone the overseas fans  

New Zealand beat England after Rachin Ravindra (left) and Devon Conway (right) scored tons

Those present in Ahmedabad say there has been little local effort at marketing the tournament and instead any visible cricketing promotion has instead been concentrated on the next Indian Premier League tournament that doesn’t start until late March.

Most of all, it makes no sense for India not to feature in the opening game, as they did the last time the World Cup was staged in the country in 2011, even if the rematch of the classic 2019 final should have been enough to draw a big festival crowd.

It is all very well the BCCI being indifferent to the point of arrogance towards crowds in their stadiums because they do not need the money.

But full houses and atmosphere should be the lifeblood of any big sporting event. Instead, as has always seemed to be the case since I started covering England’s visits to India in 2008, fans wanting to be there for this tournament have been treated with little more than contempt.

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