Kolkata: Cricket aficionados will have the opportunity to buy about 18,000 tickets, almost double the numbers earlier sold in counters, with lukewarm response from the affiliated units for the India-West Indies fifth and final one-dayer here on October 20.
After a two-day distribution among the members that began today, the counter sale of tickets will begin at CAB from October 15 while it would be available at Mohammedan Sporting tent from October 18.
"Earlier we used to sell about 8-9,000 tickets from counters but this time we have almost double the amount available. Response varies for different matches and this time we will get more number of tickets," a CAB official said.
The Eden has an official seating capacity of 67,000. The CAB has kept the same price ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 2000 and the association celebrating Eden Gardens' 150th year has lined up a host of events from October 16-19 beginning with a book release on Eden Gardens which will be done by former India allrounders Salim Durani and Chandu Borde.
Deepak Shodhan and Krishnamachari Srikkanth, the two living first Test and ODI centurions at Eden Gardens, will release a commemorative gold coin on Eden Gardens October 18.
It was Mushtaq Ali who struck the first Test century at the Eden on January 5 1934 (against England) but since he's no more, Shodhan who scored 110 versus Pakistan on December 12, 1952 will be the guest along with Srikkanth.
In a novel gesture, the Eden will felicitate 150 former members on October 17 while on October 19 former India middleorder batsman VVS Laxman who has played some cherished knocks at the Eden will deliver the third edition of the Board's MAK Pataudi Lecture at the Taj Bengal.
