Untimely showers that are affecting IPL matches have also dampened the spirit of cricket lovers; many reconsider their SA travel plans
Untimely showers that are affecting IPL matches have also dampened the spirit of cricket lovers; many reconsider their SA travel plansu00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0
Only a week into the second edition of the Indian Premier League and the buzz around the most-awaited
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cricket tournament of the year seems to have died down. With heavy showers playing spoilsport and cutting games short or stopping them entirely, cricket fans, who were planning a trip to South Africa, are now having second thoughts.
Film producer Gautam Kumar, an avid cricket fan, who was to leave for SA today, is among those who have put their trip on hold. "I am really confused, as I don't want to waste money if the matches are going to be cancelled. I may go for the semi finals if the weather conditions improve and the matches become more interesting," he said.
Tour operators toou00a0u00a0
The weather conditions have also dampened the spirits of tour operators. They fear losing out on business if the situation continues.
MiD DAY had earlier reported ('Blame IPL2 for delay in your biz trip', April 10) that tour operators had suffered losses, as several business travellers had cancelled impending visits due to the delay in SA visas after the sudden IPL rush. The rains have now increased their woes.
Iqbal Mulla, treasurer, The Travel Agents Association Of India, estimated that there would almost be a 15 per cent loss in business if the rains continued to play truant. "It's not only the rain that has dampened the spirit of cricket lovers, but also the lack of enthusiasm over the matches this year. This is going to affect our earnings," he said.
According to Dharmendra Gurusahani, owner of Travelmartindia.com Pvt Ltd, "People are apprehensive of making a trip to SA, because the heavy showers have washed out many matches. We are now counting on the finals to draw some crowds from India."
Wasted trip
Meanwhile, those who have already flown to SA are not having much fun either. Mehboob Mohammed Shaikh, manager of Travel Voyages India Pvt Limited, said, "My clients who have gone to SA are disgruntled because of the low-score matches. The games are cut short, because of the rains and as a result most matches are one-sided."u00a0u00a0
TRPs* hit too
2008: 8.21% on day one
2009:u00a0 5.55 % on day one
*By audience measurement agency INTAM Media Research
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