Ban on Rs 1000, 500 notes – side-effect also felt during India-England test in Rajkot

Rajkot: The ‘side-effect’ of sorts on the ban on Rs 500 and 1000 notes was also seen
on the Gujarati cricket lovers and the sale of tickets for the first test match between India and England which begin at the SCA stadium here today.

The cricket lovers who had come to buy tickets for the match were disappointed to see the notice board near the counters about non-acceptance of the 500 and 1000 denomination notes.

Many who had already purchased the ticket of the match were also looking concerned as they had not enough of lower denomination notes and there was complete ban on bringing outside food or water inside the stadium.

A local cricket lover Arpit Patel said that he could not buy ticket as he was not having enough acceptable cash. ‘I will try my luck next time after tomorrow once the ATMs start working again. I had come here with 1000 and 500 notes under the impression that these notes will be accepted here on the lines of some other places,’ he said.

Those who had tickets also looked concerned. One such cricket lover said that he and two of his friends have tickets but don’t have enough money in accepted denomination to ‘survive’ inside. ‘From morning to evening 3 persons can’t manage on 6 to 7 one hundred notes as everything from water to tea to breakfast to lunch is to be bought and bigger notes are not accepted,’ he said.

Meanwhile, the match, first of the current India-England series, started after a cultural presentation in presence of Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and Senior Minister Bhupendra Chudasma. BCCI President Anurag Thakur was also present on the occasion.

CM Rupani also felicitated many former and current India cricketers from Gujarat on the occasion. The list included legends like Dilip Doshi, Salim Durrani, Karsan Ghavri, Yajuvendra Singh, Dheeraj Parsana, Ravindra Jadeja and Cheteswar Pujara.

Hundreds of colorful balloons were also left in the air to mark the beginning of the India-England series.

DeshGujarat