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Cricket World Cup fears tout bonanza ahead of semi-finals

Organisers of the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup are concerned that touts could thrive ahead of this week’s semi-finals after India fans erroneously bought tickets for a game their team will not be featuring in.

Huge numbers of India supporters are believed to have snapped up tickets for the second semi-final at Edgbaston on Thursday with their team looking certain to be taking part ahead of the final round of group matches. The Daily Mail reports that more than 50 per cent of tickets for the Birmingham clash were snapped up well in advance by India fans.

However, Australia’s shock defeat to South Africa means they will now play England at Edgbaston, with India to take on New Zealand at Manchester’s Emirates Old Trafford on Tuesday.

Officials are worried that India fans will now not attend the Edgbaston fixture – leaving empty seats around the arena – or flog their tickets at inflated prices on resale sites.

Viagogo was listing £60 face value Edgbaston tickets for £119 on Monday morning, with the most expensive at £595. The cheapest seats at India’s Old Trafford game are from £257 to £512.

No tickets remain for either game via the official Cricket World Cup ticketing site.

Officials have warned throughout the tournament that those who buy tickets from unauthorised sources risk being denied entry to games.

“Our Ticket Terms and Conditions prohibit the resale of any ticket outside of the ICC’s official resale platform,” a Cricket World Cup spokesperson said. “We are continually monitoring illegal ticket resale activity and will take action to cancel tickets offered for sale on unofficial third-party websites.

“As a result, we urge fans to approach third party ticket sites with caution. Purchasing from an unauthorised source, either online or in person, could leave you out of pocket and unable to enter the venue.

“If you buy from unofficial sources, you also face the possibility of being a victim of fraud with tickets not being delivered or those that are being counterfeit tickets that will not secure entry on the day.

“Affordable and fair ticket pricing is a key priority for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. Tickets for the tournament are in high demand, which can regrettably lead to third parties attempting to take advantage of genuine fans. We are committed to taking action against such activity and have put in place a range of measures to tackle the problem.”

Image: Tourism Victoria