The empty stands during World Cup opening game: What went wrong?

In 2011, almost 12 years ago, then Bangladesh National Cricket Team Captain Shakib Al Hasan entered the Bangabandhu National Stadium, received by thousands of buzzing, energetic fans in a Rickshaw symbolizing the staple ride of the common Bangladeshi. The opening drew enchanting colours of Bangladesh and the entire Subcontinent and its love for the sport of cricket.

In 2023, Shakib, again is the Captain of Bangladesh. This time, the World Cup has returned to India. But he just attended a captains meet-up with the opening ceremony of Cricket's Premiere Global Event being cancelled. The opening match was only being attended by a few thousand fans.

Then, what has changed over the last 12 years? Has ODI cricket lost so much of its charm that even the commercial hub of the sport, India, cannot excite its people? 

The thousands of empty seats for the tournament opener at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium would make anyone believe this is some sort of bilateral series rather than cricket's finest competition to crown its champion.

Is there a lack of publicity?

What did the Board of Cricket Control (BCCI) for India do here? During the IPL, Arijit Singh, Tamanna Bhatia and Rashmika Mandanna lit up the stage. So, for the World Cup, was it just a logistical issue and a shortage of time, or maybe the de facto leaders of Global Cricket are just not interested in the ODI format anymore? Perhaps the IPL offers greater financial returns.

Rakibul Islam, a fourth-year student at the University of Dhaka, doesn't feel any sort of anticipation this time around for the World Cup. "Think back to memorable anthems like 'De Ghumake' from the 2011 edition and 'Bob's Beat' from the 2015 World Cup; they not only set the tone but also lingered on the lips of cricket fans around the world," Rakib said. 

I didn't like the song this time; moreover, there wasn't even an opening ceremony, but the games matter at the end of the day, and I am hyped that Bangladesh might go to Semis this time."

A case of cricket fatigue

Another avid lover of the game, Mezbah Smaron, who is currently in the US and will be getting up at midnight every day to see his favourite team play, feels a case of 'cricket fatigue' behind the dullness of this year's edition. 

When asked about the possible reasons behind such fatigue, Mezbah said, "While some may argue that the preference for the T-20 format has contributed to this, which is, to some extent, true, but I think the overabundance of tournaments throughout the year is one of the main reasons." 

"Too many T-20s and even T-10 tournaments, paired with numerous franchise cricket events worldwide, has led to a sort of cricket fatigue. The bigger issue is that we see the same players participating in these tournaments, with teams appearing as mere permutations and combinations of a familiar set of faces. It feels like you're watching the same tournament over and over, just with different team names and locations." 

However, Mezbah also adds that perhaps events that used to take place years back, like World XI vs Australia or the Afro-Asia Cup; if they were to happen again, the crowd would again see the beauty of the sport.

Maybe it's too much cricket, and there is a lack of publicity, or maybe the ODI format is just starting to lose its appeal – whatever it may be, empty seats in the grandest stage of cricket is a sight no one wants to see. It signals a lack of the main ingredient that has made cricket the commercial, social and even political behemoth it is - the fans.

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