Parapets were built from the grassy field for spectators to sit on, floodlights were turned on, but why is the Kirtipur Stadium, which is usually packed when Nepal plays international matches, now empty?
We use Google Cloud Translation Services. Google requires we provide the following disclaimer relating to use of this service:
This service may contain translations powered by Google. Google disclaims all warranties related to the translations, expressed or implied, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and noninfringement.
The government has been giving top priority to the cricket infrastructure that is under construction. Continuing that, if the Tribhuvan University Cricket International Stadium is built in Kirtipur in the upcoming budget, its capacity could double. After allocating Rs 400 million, the Ministry of Urban Development had built a parapet with a capacity of 10,000 spectators at the Kirtipur Stadium last year and installed floodlights. While more than 15,000 spectators were buying tickets and reaching the ground on the grass field, the government had placed seats on the parapet to strengthen the Kirtipur Stadium through infrastructure in the background of the continuous flow of Nepalese people watching the game.
The previous government has also approved the master plan for Kirtipur Stadium. The government estimates that it will cost Rs 10 billion to complete the construction work of Kirtipur Stadium as per the master plan. If this is completed, the capacity of the spectators will at least double from the present and reach more than 20,000.
After the floodlights were installed at the Kirtipur Stadium, the Nepal Cricket Association (CAN) organized the Nepal Premier League (NPL). The NPL was packed with spectators. Currently, the Cricket World Cup League 2, which has had a great impact on the long-term development of Nepali cricket, is being organized in Kirtipur. This is the first time since the construction of the parapet in Kirtipur that Nepal is playing a men's international match there.
Whether it is playing two Twenty20 Internationals with the UAE under floodlights or when Nepal competes with Oman and the UAE in the 50-over League 2, the attendance is very low. The match between Nepal and the UAE has been nicknamed 'El Clasico' like Barcelona and Real Madrid in Spanish football, but the number of spectators who have reached Kirtipur and shown up is not enough to justify the nickname 'El Clasico'.
CAN had posted a notice on social media last month setting the ticket price for League 2 matches at Rs 400. Most of them criticized CAN, saying that the ticket price was expensive. Moreover, the ticket price for the two Twenty20 international matches between Nepal and UAE under floodlights was set at Rs 750. The number of spectators who bought tickets was less than those who came to the VIP area with a 'pass'.
Vice-captain Dipendra Singh Airi scored 100 runs against the UAE on Friday, playing one of the best innings in Nepali cricket. But the applause from the audience was muffled compared to the applause from the pavilion when the Nepali team congratulated Dipendra for scoring a century.
‘Even without the World Cup, spectators used to come when Nepal played, but now even during the T20 night, spectators are not coming, I don’t know the reason, maybe it’s because the ticket prices are high,’ Dipendra had told the media after scoring a century against the UAE, ‘There was an expectation that spectators should come. When the players have spectators, it also helps. When we went to play in America, Nepali spectators came, when we went to play in India, spectators came, but when international matches are being played in Nepal, spectators are not coming, that is a sad thing.’
Whether it is the Grand Prairie in Dallas, America or the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, Nepal used to be full of spectators when they played their games. But while Nepal is playing an important match of League 2 to maintain its ODI status, only a few spectators have come to Kirtipur. Perhaps under the influence of this, CAN has reduced the ticket prices from 400 to 200 on Monday. CAN has stated that this rate has been set for the next series of League 2 matches between Oman and the United States and Scotland that Nepal will play on Tuesday.
CAN spokesperson Chumbi Lama does not believe that the high ticket prices are the only reason for the lack of spectators, but he says that this could also be a reason. ‘Because we played against countries like West Indies and England in the World Cup, the audience may expect us to play against a big nation.’ But we also have our constraints, we cannot just let any team come and play whenever we want,’ Lama said. ‘The UAE and Oman may be regular opponents, but the audience has come very little.’
He expressed confidence that the next series of League 2 between the United States and Scotland will attract more spectators. He said that the number of spectators who have come to the ongoing League 2 has not been calculated yet. But after Nepal has played 3 games in this series of League 2, only around 1,000 spectators have been seen in the field per game.
‘Compared to the past, when Nepal plays international games, there have definitely been very few spectators, this may have happened for the first time. Naturally, it may be because of the higher money,’ said spokesperson Lama, adding, ‘There is also a facility to watch Nepal’s cricket happening on various platforms, and spectators are also taking advantage of that facility. It may also be because of the long ODI structure, the spectators have not shown much interest in going to the field to watch the game.’
Lama admits that the lack of spectators coming to watch Nepal’s games at home has forced him to think about the CAN. ‘In the past, the ticket price for Nepali matches was kept at Rs 300. Since it is the first international match on the Parapit, we have also set the recommended ticket price with the ICC, trying to go a little higher,’ said Lama. ‘When spectators come and watch the match, it gives moral support to the players and also motivates them to play well.’ He said that the presence of spectators who buy tickets and watch the match has had a great impact on CAN’s financial resources, and now the budget will also be affected if spectators do not come.’
When Nepal played the Twenty20 World Cup in Mumbai, India for two months, the ticket price started at Rs 300. But the spectators have reacted that the ticket price of Rs 400 is too expensive when playing at home in Nepal.
Amit Basyal, a spectator who comes to watch cricket regularly, says that there are no facilities for watching matches that last more than 7 hours. He said, ‘There is a ban on bringing water bottles and food into the field.’ During the rainy season, most of the parapets do not even have a place to sit, these are basic facilities in the stadium, 400 rupees is very expensive for students.'
After the defeat to Oman, Sompal Kami had also said that there was a shortage of spectators. 'Where Nepal cricket has reached now, what is talked about about Nepali cricket now, is because of the fans rather than us players,' he had requested the spectators, 'I hope we will be able to see the spectators on the field. They have always played the role of the 12th player.' He had jokingly said that Omani captain Jatinder Singh was able to score a century against Nepal due to the lack of spectators.
Sompal also estimated that it may have been difficult for spectators to sit in the stadium for 7-8 hours to watch an ODI match. Sompal is also surprised that spectators did not come to watch Nepal's matches despite the increased seating facilities in the stadium.
