Tone Deafness Through The Roof: BCCI To Organise Musical Gala Before India-Pakistan Cricket Match On 14 October

The India versus Pakistan match during the 2023 Cricket World Cup, scheduled for 14 October in Ahmedabad, is poised to kick off with a spectacular musical ceremony. Attendees holding golden tickets are anticipated to witness the game.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has extended golden tickets to cricket legends Sachin Tendulkar, iconic actor Rajnikanth, and Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan at the outset of the tournament.

Anil Patel, the secretary of GCA, confirmed the presence of Golden ticket-holders to witness the game, according to India Today. The match is now slated to feature an elaborate curtain-raiser event, a musical gala.

The decision is being criticised in light of the recent terror activities of Pakistan where Indian soldiers lost their lives. However, the BCCI seems to be focusing on the massive viewership that the intense cricket rivalry garners.

Also, this will be a special ceremony for the match, as no other matches have witnessed a musical event before the start. However, some reports are defending it saying that the event is compensation as there was no opening ceremony for the tournament.

Going by the past records, India has dominated the head-to-head record in ODI World Cup matches, emerging victorious in all seven encounters with Pakistan.

India initiated their World Cup campaign with a triumph over Australia, while Pakistan, with two wins in two matches, is gaining momentum for the impending showdown.

The said event will commence at 12:40 PM and conclude by 1:10 PM. Children will serve as mascots for the game, escorting the teams onto the field.

Approximately 20-25 Pakistani media outlets are set to cover the match, with all arrangements and approvals in place. Officials from the PCB are also expected to attend the game.

Earlier too, the cricket bodies faced criticism for keeping a reserve day only for the India-Pakistan match in the Asia Cup, while other games too were washed away due to rains.