Ahmedabad, March 7 (NationPress) - The Ahmedabad Crime Branch has apprehended two individuals accused of engaging in black market activities related to tickets for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final, set to occur at the Narendra Modi Stadium on March 8.

According to the Crime Branch, authorities received reports indicating that tickets for this prestigious match were being offered at significantly inflated prices.

In response to the intelligence received, a specialized team executed a sting operation near the ST bus pickup point adjacent to Gujarat Vidyapith in the Usmanpura district.

During their observation, two suspects were seen acting suspiciously. Upon approaching them, the police conducted a search and recovered a total of eight tickets for the final.

Initial investigations disclosed that the suspects had pre-booked these tickets online and were attempting to sell them unlawfully just one day prior to the match.

The Crime Branch reported that the tickets were priced at three times their original cost, with the suspects allegedly asking for Rs 10,000 each.

The individuals have been identified as Vipin Bhati, hailing from Jodhpur, Rajasthan, and Ritik Yadav, a resident of Versova, Mumbai, originally from Madhya Pradesh.

Authorities confirmed that all eight tickets have been confiscated and legal proceedings have been initiated.

“Neither of them are local to Ahmedabad or even Gujarat; they came specifically to the city to engage in ticket sales. We are currently investigating their accommodation details and whether they have a history of similar activities for major events. Preliminary findings suggest they may have already sold around 10 to 12 tickets for the World Cup final,” stated an official to IANS.

Further inquiries are ongoing to uncover if additional individuals are part of the alleged ticket black marketing network.

This crackdown comes just a day before the much-anticipated final match, which will feature a showdown between India and New Zealand in the city.

The final is expected to draw thousands of fans to the stadium, the world's largest cricket venue, which has hosted numerous significant international matches.

Authorities have announced comprehensive security and traffic management plans in preparation for the event.

The Ahmedabad Police have issued a traffic advisory indicating that restrictions around the stadium will commence at 10 a.m. on March 8 and will remain enforced until midnight, with an extension until 2 a.m. on March 9 to facilitate post-match traffic.

Key routes surrounding the stadium will be closed to regular traffic during this time, with access granted only to vehicles possessing valid passes.

Over 800 traffic police officers will be deployed to manage vehicle movements and assist fans attending the match, while alternative routes will be available for commuters traveling through the area.