Why yesterday's Australia vs Zimbabwe tie in Ahmedabad was forgettable for some
Why yesterday's Australia vs Zimbabwe tie in Ahmedabad wasu00a0forgettable for some
The first match of the 2011 World Cup at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera here yesterday between Australia and Zimbabwe turned out to be a forgettable one for the fans, not just because of the lop-sided contest but also due to filthy and unhygienic conditions at the venue.
Almost all stands had some broken and unclean seats. While some bucket seats had paint stains, no efforts were taken to clean up bird excreta.u00a0 Toilets were the worst. They were filthy and without proper sanitation.
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Same shame
MiD DAY took stock of the situation on match eve, but hoped that things would change for better on match day. Alas! There was no such luck.
Jarjon Anderson, who had come all the way from Down Under to cheer the Kangaroos, rued: "Although I didn't have great expectations as far as the facilities were concerned, we thought they would be better, considering this is the World Cup."u00a0 An Indian fan, Nimesh Ramdhani (26), who was seen dusting his shirt during the innings break, said: "Since it is a World Cup game, the facilities should have been better. What can we do now if the seats are broken and not clean?" He slammed the Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA) for its disregard for the fans. "It's terrible. Bau kharab che (it is very bad)," said Ramdhani.
Considering that this World Cup is seen as a litmus test for the 50-over format, the attitude of the GCA has left much to be desired.
Anil Patel, GCA Cricket Operations Manager, remained defiant. "I doubt (what the fans had to say). The ICC has appreciated the venue. Both the teams, Australia and Zimbabwe, have also praised the venue. They said it is a fantastic stadium. They were all satisfied with the staff, practice grounds and the training facilities," said Patel.
"It was a fantastic experience for everyone to see Australia come to Ahmedabad after a long time," he added.
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