Cuttack, Jan. 2: Hike in ticket prices has not deterred spectators from booking it for the upcoming One Day International between India and England at Barabati Stadium here on January 19.

Although the Odisha Cricket Association had increased ticket prices for all classes, including gallery, by Rs 100 to Rs 300 for the upcoming match, it failed to dampen the spirits of cricket enthusiasts.

Many spectators booked tickets online through debit and credit cards on the opening day of ticket sale today. As many as 2,092 tickets were sold through online ticket sale via www.get2thegames.com.

Senior association officials said that as many as 8,310 tickets had been earmarked to be sold online out of 22,041 tickets for the general public.

This is the first time that the association has increased the number of tickets to be sold online. Earlier, only 4,000 to 5,000 tickets were reserved for online sale for spectators, especially from other parts of the country.

The remaining 13,731 tickets will be sold through three special counters to be set up at the stadium from January 16. "It is evident that people of Odisha love cricket as nearly 15 per cent tickets have been sold on the first day. All tickets reserved for online sale will be exhausted by Wednesday," said an official.

Spectators welcomed the cricket body's decision to increase the number of tickets to be sold online.

"After initial problems in booking tickets because of server problems, I managed to book two gallery tickets. I thank the state association for increasing the number of tickets to be sold online as I had failed to book tickets online in the past," said Omkar Rout, a spectator from Jagatpur.

Odisha Cricket Association secretary Ashirbad Behera told The Telegraph that point-of-sale machines would also be installed at the counters to facilitate cashless ticket sales for the upcoming match at the stadium.

"Payments for all the ticket purchases, including those for the gallery, less than Rs 2,000 will have to be made in cash. Point-of-sale machines will be installed during the counter sale of tickets from January 16," said Behera.

Association officials said all the gallery tickets had been numbered to check unauthorised entry of spectators into the stadium for the first time.