Dwindling crowds for test cricket a concern for ICC by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Event:

Australia in India 2008/09

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DateLine: 23rd October 2008

 

Looking at the crowds in the PCA stadium at Mohali during the second test it was shocking.Test cricket was at its lowest ebb when Sachin Tendulkar broke the world record for the highest runs in tests and there were just a handful of spectators in the stadium.May be they couldn't care less that an Indian was breaking a world record or they didn't know it or t20 influence could be easily felt.
Whatever be the reason, Two legends of Indian cricket Sachin and Saurav would be extremely disappointed that not many people were there to see their performance.Not only them but also the whole team would be extremely disappointed with the turn out when they had their best test match ever.
Punjab Cricket Association President Mr I.S.Bindra had his own take on the issue.He was frank enough to admit to the fact that The spectators were short changed.They were not given adequate facilities.There being an increasing threat perception spectators were not allowed anything into the stadium.The security check was so intense that they had to walk long distances to reach the stadium.He defended Test cricket by saying that interest in test cricket had not diminished.The TRP ratings for test cricket was still high.He just believed that he had not updated the Mohali stadium well enough and make it spectator friendly.He accepted that it was a challenge to get spectators back to Mohali for test matches rather than IPL.
All is still not lost. India is not like Pakistan,Sri Lanka,South Africa or West Indies,where there are hardly any crowds for test matches.Crowds were not bad at Bangalore at all .Fans are still passionate about the game.Infact that is what one generally expects.Hopefully one can see similar crowds in Delhi were the third test is going to be played.
But the most important thing is BCCI needs to make sure that focus is there on Test cricket.They need to coordinate with the ICC and make sure that they have three match test series rather than two match test series which they are having against England and seven ODIS.BCCI need to get their priorities right.IPL is fine.Money going to the players is allright.But if they do not value Test Cricket and are not bothered about crowds it would be detrimental to the next generation of Indian cricketers who might start thinking that IPL is everything.