MUMBAI // Not a single ticket for the Cricket World Cup final to be held in Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium was sold to the public after the official website crashed, according to the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Tickets had been put on sale at 7.30am GMT (11.30am UAE) yesterday on Kyazoonga.com, but an ICC spokesman said the website buckled "due to exceptional circumstances when 10 million people were trying to get on one website at one time."
"They [Kyazoonga] were working throughout the night to get it up and running and not one ticket has been sold from the quota we had."
Of the 33,000 seats at the Wankhede, around 4000 are available to the public — 1000 online while another 3000 will be sold later for those who queue up at stadium box offices.
The rest are distributed among the ICC and clubs affiliated to the Mumbai Cricket Association.
The ICC said it was still trying to resolve the problems before releasing new details on when the tickets would be available.
Ponting says Australia need to address spin threat
Ricky Ponting, the Australia captain, says his side need to prepare for sterner tests with sides possessing a greater spin threat after their comfortable 91-run win against Zimbabwe yesterday.
Ponting's men came through a tricky opening period with the bat, where Shane Watson, Brad Haddin, Ponting himself and Cameron White were all tied down by Zimbabwe's spin bowlers on a slow, lifeless pitch, but he warns that other teams, including their next match against New Zealand will be tricker with their spinners.
"We know we have to improve and play better against New Zealand in a few days' time," Ponting said. "We need to have our own game plans sorted out for better spinning attacks, there's no doubt about that, and as the tournament goes on we are going to need to be on top of our game. "We're probably not quite there yet but the more we play and the more we become accustomed to these conditions then the better we will get."
Junaid Khan comes to terms of filling Aamer 's boots
Junaid Khan, the 21-year-old Pakistan paceman, had hoped that he would be part of the bowling attack with Mohammed Aamer, but as his replacement, he is confident of making his mark at the World Cup.
Khan could make his one-day international debut tomorrow against Group A opponents Kenya at the Mahinda Rajapaksa in Sri Lanka after an impressive three-wicket haul against England in a warm-up match last week, but he is only in the squad after replacing Aamer following his banning by the ICC for alleged spot-fixing.
"I wish we both could have played together, but that's not the case now," Khan said of Aamer adding that he hopes he can feature in the opening match against Kenya. "It's a lucky ground for me, so I am happy I am here again.
"If I was given an opportunity, I will do something special again."
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