Police and fans in further clashes

Nagpur: Police clashed with hundreds of fans seeking tickets for India's World Cup showdown against South Africa yesterday, again highlighting the country's inability to handle the huge demand.

Twelve days after similar scenes were witnessed in Bengaluru, stick-wielding police battered fans in front of the ticket counter at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium.

Spectators had been queuing behind wooden barricades since Monday.

A witness said sections of the crowd became restless yesterday morning and started climbing over the barriers, breaking them down.

Huge rush

The ticket counter remained closed as police were seen trying to control the crowds hoping to attend Saturday's match.

"When the counter opened, there was a huge rush to buy the tickets," Ram Dixit, one of the unlucky fans, said. "Police baton-charged the people as they tried to control the crowd."

The International Cricket Council declined to discuss the matter while India's cricket board could not be reached for comment.

Ticket sales have proven to be a major headache for Indian organisers, who are unable to meet demand for the high-profile matches.