Thousands of supporters "were left frustrated after tickets for the game between India and Pakistan in the Champions Trophy next year were sold out in little more than an hour" Monday morning, according to Richard Hobson of the LONDON TIMES. The contest "proved far more popular than both England's first group game against Australia and the final itself," with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) "pledging to clamp down on touts after tickets were put up for sale on eBay by lunchtime." Tournament Dir Steve Elworthy denied that the ECB "had underestimated demand and described the early rush as 'incredibly positive for the tournament.'" Even though, "there were complaints of lengthy delays to reach the relevant online portal or to get through on the phone." Evidence has emerged of India and Pakistan followers "signing up for the England supporters’ club run by the ECB, known as 'Twelfth Man,' to enable them to buy tickets during a priority booking window, which opened on Friday last week, three days before they went on public sale" (LONDON TIMES, 11/5).
