Where Have The Pak Fans Gone ?
By Oxy
October 25 2004
Oxy looks at the reasons why test cricket in Pakistan is played in front of extremely low attendances and what the PCB can do about this worrying trend.
Pakistan has witnessed a dramatic decline in attendances for ALL international
cricket matches, in recent years, but what has contributed to the ‘stay away’ of
a so called ‘cricket loving nation’?
Apart from the recent ‘Jeet lo Dil’ Samsung ODI series in February 2004 where
all 5 ODIs v India were sold out, the PCB has failed to produce any decent
crowds in previous series v South Africa, New Zealand, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka.
Is it Low Finances?
Lack of funds is no longer an excuse. The PCB are sitting pretty on a US $22
million bonanza after the Indian tour to Pakistan.
The following is the break-up of who is paying the PCB what, as reported by
Pakistan's The News :
*Ten Sports exclusive broadcaster - $ 13.45 million (includes additional
$300,000 Ten agreed to pay PCB for live video streaming rights and $150,000 for
live radio broadcasting).
*Electronic major Samsung title sponsor - $ 4 million.
*Hero Honda co-sponsor - $ 1,491,000.
*World Sport Nimbus In-stadia advertising (unrestricted) and mobile telephony
rights - $1,389,000 ($ 1,287,000 In-stadia and $ 102,000 telephony rights for
India only).
*Madison Outdoor Media Services (MOMS) In-stadia advertising (restricted) -
$383,800.
*Ticket, hospitality boxes and vending rights sales - $ 1 million.
Series of the Century?
The problems spectacularly hit home during the Test series v India this year.
So, concerned by the poor crowd turnout for the first Test in 15 years between
the arch-rivals, the Pakistan Cricket Board had to reduced the price of tickets
by half mid way through the match to lure fans to the ground after the first
day of the 1st Test at Multan attracted barely 3000 spectators.
The crowd response was even more disappointing on the second day today as less
than 2000 spectators turned up at the Multan Cricket Stadium!
So, onto the 2nd test, the Lahore public would surely be desperate to see their
heroes avenge the embarrassing defeat at Multan. WRONG! Barely 1,200
spectators watched the game in contrary to expectations that a big crowd would
come to watch their stars bat in the first innings after they bundled out India
cheaply.
Over 18,000 Indian cricket fans had visited Pakistan to watch the historic
cricket series and at Lahore, they OUTNUMBERED the home supporters!
So, did the Govt have an opinion? Information Minister, Sheikh Rashid Ahmad
told CNN that he took a ‘strict notice of the poor coverage of cricket matches
of the ongoing cricket series between Pakistan and India’. And that he had
telephoned Ten-Sports TV channel authorities and directed them to ‘improve the
coverage of cricket matches otherwise strict action would be taken against
them’. So, no concerns for the crowd then? Nice to see his viewing pleasure
was not too disrupted!!!
So where are the cricket loving population of Pakistan? Wasn’t Pakistan v India
supposed to be the BIGGEST SPORTING RIVALRY on Earth? Or have the Pakistani
population just fallen ‘out of love’ with the longer format of the game?
No longer interested in sitting in the sun for 5 days; no longer willing to drop
everything to sit in front of their TV screens for their entertainment. Or are
we simply witnessing the ‘internet generation’ who have more disposable income
then previous generations, who are more interested in spending their wealth or
fashion, cars, mobile phones, computers and sitting in net cafes all day and
night chatting to cyber-chums!
Muhammad Ejaz Chaudhary, a high ranking official (District Council Officer) of
Multan boldly said-“I have identified five reasons for the poor turnout:
(1) Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has priced the tickets too high;
(2) The stadium is a great distance away from the city;
(3) It is extremely hot;
(4) Exams are on and therefore children as well as their parents can’t make it;
(5) The general perception of the public, and mine too, is that the matches are
fixed.”
Excuses, excuses and more excuses!
In 2003, Pakistan played 7 test matches (and 3 of those were v Bangladesh). By
November 2004, they will have only played 5 tests matches. In the same period,
the likes of Sri Lanka, Australia and England will have played more than twice
as much test cricket as Pakistan.
The entire cricket scene in Pakistan is a contradiction. The cash is there; the
‘cricket-loving’ public exists; the Broadcasting are falling over to pay over
the odds to cover the games and the advertisers willing to throw millions of
dollars at the PCB.
Overseas
The game in Australia and England is THRIVING, particularly the test version.
In England there is a ‘Black Market’ for test match tickets, whereas you really
CANNOT give them away in Pakistan! Would 9,000 people turn up to watch a
meaningless ODI between West Indies and New Zealand in Pakistan, like they did
in England in 2004?
The total international attendance figure for 1997 was 498,916. In 2003 it rose
to 630,213 and that is UP 24% more than last 2002..
The total attendance in 1997 was 1,795,601, rising to 1,934,195 in 2003.
Looking at attendance increases from 2002 to 2003 seasons, the increase in
international cricket was 24%, and in domestic cricket 22%. The increase for all
cricket between 2002 and 2003 was 23%. (Source:© 2003 ECB)
The ECB are clearly an proactive cricket board-they fully exploit the market
potential of their stars-look at the ‘Flintoff Factor’ and the clamour to watch
him perform in England colours. AND it has paid dividends for them.
Where do we go from here?
The Public are clearly voting with their feet. When venues such as Faisalabad
have more security personnel than fans, its time to worry. But the authority
charged with protect and promoting our national game – the PCB are clearly
content with the Status Quo. The likes of ARY Digital and Ten Sports are
willing to go to court to cover Pakistani games, so whether there is a full
house, or one man attending with his Donkey-the income is guaranteed. Should
the PCB be worried in the short term? Probably not. ARY has generously
bankrolled the home series until 2008.
Many observers ARE worried about the decline in attendances. Concerned of the
apparent spectator apathy; the lack of investment at grassroots level; the vast
salaries being paid to a succession of coaches who have failed to deliver for a
decade. Many have called for a blanket broadcasting ban of international games
in the towns/cities of the venues hosting the matches until a substantial number
of tickets are sold.
Will this work in Pakistan? Whilst it has been enforced in many Australian
states, would there be any motivation to do so in Pakistan.
There are calls for Pakistan’s test matches to be played on neutral venues,
however, in 2002, the Pak v Windies series at Sharjah was rocked by poor
attendances despite games being played on weekends.
If anyone is likely to take the initiative in this aspect, it is India who have
intimated their desire to play more series in England after their fanatical
supporters won the plaudits during the Natwest series in 2004.
One thing is clear-the TV moguls that have infiltrated the game in Pakistan have
far too much say in when and where Pakistan play (Series during Ramadhan may
suit TV, but hardly ideal for the public)
Either way, Pakistani cricket faces massive upheavals both on and off the pitch
and clearly the onus has to be on the PCB to explore new opportunities before we
lament the demise of cricket in the same way that West Indies are now ‘mourning’
their national sport.