Category Archives: New Zealand cricket

Danny Byrne’s Review

I discovered that the ticket they refused to give me yesterday for “an unavoidable circumstance” was not due to the Galle CC Stand being closed, but rather that the authorities realised they could make more money by selling access to the Galle CC Stand in a more creative manner. As the Galle CC Stand is principally a Member’s Stand it has suddenly become possible to purchase membership for a week for the sum of 7500 Rupees. All I had to do was try to locate the office of the Club Secretary Mr. Pitigala and hand over the money after 8.30 am and I would have access to a Bar, a Restaurant and comfortable seating for five days. It would have been nice to have handed it over in used 20 Rupee notes in a brown paper bag, but I didn’t have time to go to the bank and a stationary shop in advance. On arrival at the ground I was looking for a sign saying “Tourist fleecing – this way,” but the operation was a bit more discreet and I was fortunate to have been tipped off by an existing Life Member. I now have a nice credit card sized bright blue temporary membership card and I was even issued with a receipt for the 7500 Rupees. Naturally there was no explanation as to what passed as “an unavoidable circumstance” or why my initial purchase of a 5 Day pass for 5000 Rupees wasn’t sufficient to gain entry. Once I climbed the stairs and reached the members enclosure I was promptly informed that the Bar would remain closed due to a religious holiday. 

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