The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has come under fire over filthy seats at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Criticism from social media users comes days before the high-voltage clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan in the ICC World Cup 2023.
The mega event is taking place in India with warm-up matches being held ahead of the main round which starts on October 5 in Ahmedabad.
The finalists of the 2019 edition England and New Zealand will be playing in the tournament opener followed by Pakistan facing the Netherlands the following day.
On Tuesday, Pakistan lost the warm-up match against Australia by 14 runs. Fans were allowed to watch the game but seats were filthy and people could not sit on them.Â
C. Venkatesh, a user on X (formerly Twitter) shared a picture of some filthy seats, triggering a storm against the Indian cricket authorities over their failure to make proper arrangements for the cricket fans coming to watch matches at the stadiums.
Nothing much has changed in Uppal stadium. Only some window dressing and spectator comfort still not taken care of in full.#worldcup2023 pic.twitter.com/RiPyeRsfEn
— C.VENKATESH (@C4CRICVENKATESH) October 3, 2023
This is for those, who said I had posted an old or fake pic. I’m very present at the ground. pic.twitter.com/klMfNCM6VM
— C.VENKATESH (@C4CRICVENKATESH) October 3, 2023
This video is for those doubting thomoses who felt my earlier pics were edited. pic.twitter.com/xmC5ti9hCm
— C.VENKATESH (@C4CRICVENKATESH) October 3, 2023
The condition of Uppal stadium Hyderabad, richest board offers this to the people of the country and that too in a world cup, will Roger Binny and Jay Shah sit on these seats? what a shame BCCI
Pic courtesy- C. VENKATESH #WorldCup #CricketWorldCup2023 #ausvspak#PAKvAUS pic.twitter.com/Wrc6xCAd2X
— Kartik Wamdev (@kartikwamdev) October 3, 2023
India’s senior sports journalist Vikrant Gupta also reacted to the photos going viral and said “Shocking. To say the least.”
Shocking. To say the least https://t.co/WRM0984dFL
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) October 3, 2023
ICC ODI World Cup 2023 matches in Hyderabad
Pakistan vs Netherlands on October 6
New Zealand vs Netherlands on October 9
Pakistan vs Sri Lanka on October 12
Earlier, Australian batters showed no mercy to Pakistani pacers in their innings as they posted a colossal total of 351 runs in 50 overs.
Glenn Maxwell played a fine knock, scoring 77 off 71 with ten boundaries that went all over the ground, he was followed by Josh Inglis who helped the Aussies accelerate their innings in the last 10 overs and scored 48 off 30 with a handsome 160 strike rate. Pakistan are currently chasing the total.