WORLD CUP CHAOS AS FANS LEFT TICKETLESS

THE ticketing strategy for the Cricket World Cup has been branded farcical after swathes of fans said they have not received tickets for the opening match with less than a week to go. In the face of severe criticism from ticket-holders, tournament organisers were forced yesterday to publicise contingency measures for those whose tickets fail to turn up before Thursday’s opener between England and South Africa at the Oval. They insisted that the vast majority of tickets to overseas fans have been sent and all domestic tickets have been dispatched, but fans have complained on social media that they are yet to receive theirs. Supporters have been reassured they will be able to collect replacement tickets from grounds, but this still prompted concern among fans who have prebooked their travel and face the prospect of long queues at box offices, which will open two hours before each

match. Robbie Millar, 28, from York, told

Sportsmail he has around 20 tickets for matches, including the opener. ‘I wouldn’t say I am worried,’ he said, ‘but I bought them a year ago and they are still not here a week before the tournament, which is a bit annoying. ‘I emailed in saying that I have tickets for England against South Africa next Thursday, and I had a generic response saying, “Please get in touch with us if they haven’t arrived within five days of the match”. Come on. ‘It will be a great event, but it’s not the best start.’ Overseas supporters fear they will have to travel to the UK without tickets. Lynette van der Walt, 40, from Johannesburg, told

Sportsmail that she and her relatives have spent £7,600 on accommodation and travel, but they have not received any tickets, the first of which are for South Africa’s game against Afghanistan in Cardiff on June 15. ‘Right now, it’s panic,’ she said. ‘We have booked all our hotels, which we can’t cancel, and you aren’t sure you are getting the tickets or not. Train tickets as well, all this money has been spent. ‘I am scared they (the tickets) end up here and I am already in London. ‘You’re excited but you’re scared. These things are just blurring what should have been very easy.’ The official Cricket World Cup website says tickets will arrive no later than five days before the relevant match, and that tickets would start to be sent out six weeks prior to the tournament. They were not sent out further in advance to limit ticket touting. A joint statement from the CWC and the ICC said: ‘Across the last month tickets have been posted to fans around the world. ‘Any fans who have not received their tickets 48 hours before the match should contact the helpline on 0344 8472019.’