A surprising sight unfolded at the MCA Stadium in Pune during the India vs Bangladesh match in the ICC Cricket World Cup. Despite the majority of India's matches being sold out within moments of ticket releases, a number of vacant seats were visible in Pune's 42,000-plus capacity stadium at the start of the game.
This event marked the MCA Stadium's World Cup debut, making it the 24th Indian venue to host an ODI World Cup match. However, the appearance of empty seats presented an unexpected picture.
While the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had released tickets in two more phases, there were still a number of empty seats. While the reasons for these vacant spots are varied, some attribute them to the delayed entry into the stadium.
Social media was full of videos and images capturing hundreds and thousands of eager fans waiting outside the stadium. These fans were yet to be permitted entry, which likely contributed to the scattered vacant spots in the stadium during a high-profile World Cup encounter.
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