Ashes tickets cancelled after Internet investigation

31 Aug 2006

Cricket Australia (CA) has cancelled 1,300 Ashes tickets after an investigation into Internet auction sales.

CA chief executive James Sutherland told a news conference in Melbourne fans risked being turned away from match venues if they turned up with tickets bought off scalpers.

CA launched its investigation into the sales after discovering that touts were selling them over the Internet at inflated prices.

"Where people purchase tickets from a scalper at a premium, they're in breach of the terms and conditions, and we will, where appropriate, cancel those tickets," Sutherland said.

Demand for tickets to the five-match series, starting in Brisbane on November 23, has exceeded availability with seats sold out within hours of being released this year.

The tickets were only made available to Australian residents but thousands of English supporters are still expected to make the trip Down Under despite not having tickets.

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