Police used bamboo sticks to beat cricket fans trying to buy tickets in Bangalore on Thursday as World Cup organizers criticized Indian officials over rising ticketing disorder.
Fans queuing for seats at India's game with England in Bangalore on Sunday were baton-charged by police as vast crowds pushed towards the gates of the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Several people were injured and taken away on stretchers as police attempted to stay order among the throng of several thousand fans, an AFP reporter witnessed.
All 7,000 tickets put on sale on Thursday sold out within hours, departure many disappointed fans who had waited at the ground all night.
A letter from the International Cricket Council (ICC) to organizing committee chairman Sharad Pawar was leaked early Thursday airing "serious concerns" over distribution and sales of tickets for the tournament.
There was particular concern over plans to sell the remaining 4,000 tickets available for the April 2 final in Mumbai over the counter.
"With the important demand and small availability there is potential for disorder and physical injury when the box office sales open," the ICC warned. "For this reason we strongly recommend that this sale of tickets be cancelled."
The ICC's worst fears were quickly realized when huge numbers of excited fans descended on the stadium in Bangalore to purchase tickets for the high-profile India v England game.
The ICC told Pawar in the letter that issues surrounding distribution of tickets "had now reached critical status and need your instant involvement."
It said Kyazoonga, the official ticketing company, had not been given printed tickets in time to deliver them to customers.
"We have received many complaints from fans that purchased tickets but are yet to receive them despite having paid for these tickets more than six months ago."
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