High-profile cricket games always attract the rich and famous. A big stakes tournament like the Champions Trophy, it appears, is no exception. With India embarking on an eventful campaign, interest is at its peak and many VIPs are making a beeline for a cricket stadium in England.

The BCCI on its part had foreseen such a possibility and have already made arrangements and are inviting special guests to watch the games from the Board’s private box at each of three venues of the Champions Trophy. According to a report in the Indian Express, Robert Vadra, son-in-law of Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi, was also one of the Board’s invitees.

According to the report, Vadra was invited to watch India play South Africa at the Oval earlier in the tournament.

While BCCI CEO Rahul Johri was not available for comment on the board’s VIP guest list, the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrator stated that it was “not involved in the distribution of complimentary tickets”.

Incidentally, the COA had frozen a payment of Rs 76 lakh that the BCCI had made to buy tickets for the World Twenty20 in 2016 as the Board had purchased additional tickets despite being entitled to 100 tickets per game. All to accommodate special guests.

This time around, the BCCI has reserved a 24-seat corporate box for its officials and “special guests” at each venue of the ongoing tournament. The International Cricket Council also provides an additional 20 tickets for each game.

Other than Johri, acting president CK Khanna, secretary Amitabh Choudhary, IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla are also currently in England.

“Former president N Srinivasan came up with the idea of the BCCI having its own box at the World Cup and Champions Trophy,” the report quoted an official as saying.

“The aim was to provide the best seats for BCCI members and those helping the Indian board,” the official added.

Understandably, these seats are in high demand for Sunday’s India-Pakistan final.

“NRI businessmen, politicians and celebrities have been calling us for passes,” the official said.