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News Khabran / Cricket final creates Melbourne cabbie shortage
« on: April 02, 2011, 11:04:14 PM »
A Melbourne taxi driver says getting a cab tomorrow night will be "next to impossible", with many Indian drivers taking the night off to watch the cricket.
India takes on Sri Lanka in the Cricket World Cup final tomorrow night.
Vinny Singh, who has been driving taxis is Melbourne for five years, says he knows at least 100 drivers who will be taking the night off to watch the game.
He is warning Melbourne residents not to rely on getting a taxi on Saturday night.
"I think it will be next to impossible, because I think that a lot of Indian students who are driving cabs in the night, as part of their part-time job, will be having a day off," he said.
"They will be supporting their country, their nation and their players, taking a day off tomorrow and watching cricket."
Mark Langton, a taxi operator who runs a fleet of 50 cabs, is expecting several drivers to pull out of work, but hopes he will be able to cover the shifts.
"We'll be using a lot of our newer recruits, people that might otherwise not get a shift," he said.
"It'll be like a football team with a few injuries, you'll have to pull up some of the reserve players."
But the Victorian Taxi Association's David Samuel says the match will not lead to a taxi shortage.
"As far as we're concerned, it'll be like any other Saturday night," he said.
"Most taxi drivers don't have the luxury to be able to not work Saturday night. It's a good night for them in terms of income. I'm sure they'll be out there trying to earn a buck."
