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CLT20: Cricket stars, cheerleaders... but where's the crowd?

Last updated on: September 19, 2014 12:24 IST

Cheerleaders

Cheerleaders during the Champions League Twenty20 match between Kings XI Punjab and Hobart Hurricanes, at the Punjab Cricket Association stadium, Mohali. Photograph: BCCI

Despite the home team featuring for the first time this season, the crowd for the CLT20 match between Kings XI Punjab and Hobart Hurricanes, at the PCA stadium, in Mohali, on Thursday night, was sparse.

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As the game began in the evening, the crowd at the 28,000 capacity stadium was thin, and by the end it it the attendance was not even close to half the mark. Several rows of seats in many stands were empty.

Ankush, a school-going fan, who had come to watch the game, said he was a big fan of Kings XI and wanted to cheer for them.

"May be the event is not hyped as much as the IPL, which may be the reason for poor turnout," he said, when asked why the fans did no turned up in huge numbers as witnessed during IPL matches played at the venue.

CLT20

Spectators during the Champions League Twenty20 match between Kings XI Punjab and Hobart Hurricanes, at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali. Photograph: BCCI

Harmeet Singh, another cricket fan, said he wanted to see a big innings from Kings opener Virender Sehwag, but the dashing batsman disappointed.

"I was hoping to see a big knock from him, but he got out without scoring," he said.

Another bunch of youngsters who had come to watch the tie said they were excited to watch a new team -- Hurricanes -- in action in Mohali for the first time.