Organizers defend cancelling scalped Ashes tickets by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Event:

England in Australia 2006/07

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DateLine: 31st August 2006

 

Australian cricket organizers on Thursday defended a decision to cancel Ashes tickets sold for inflated prices over the Internet, saying they were trying to protect fans from scalpers.

 

Cricket Australia said it had invalidated 1,300 tickets to the upcoming series against England after hiring private investigators to identify tickets sold on Internet auction sites.

 

CA chief executive James Sutherland warned that his organization would take a hard line against scalpers and fans should avoid buying from them. “If you buy from scalpers, chances are you will miss the cricket and (lose) your money,” he said.

 

The upcoming Ashes series, in which Australia will attempt to regain the trophy it lost last September to England after 18 years, is the most anticipated for generations and tickets sold out within hours.