The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is still awaiting a positive response from their Indian counterparts on allocating tickets for thousands of fans.
LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is still awaiting a positive response from their Indian counterparts on allocating tickets for thousands of fans keen on travelling to India to support their team.
Zakir Khan, Director Cricket Operations said today that the Indian board had not yet responded to reminders sent by the PCB on having a clear policy on allocation of tickets and issuance of cricket visas.
"We had asked them to allocate around 2000 tickets for each match but till now they have assured us only 250 tickets for Pakistani spectators who can purchase the tickets through us," he said.
He said even these tickets were still to reach the board.
Another official in the board said they had told the Indian board that unless the Pakistani fans were able to purchase tickets they would face difficulties in obtaining a visa to travel to India.
"The visas are easier to get if you apply with a ticket in hand. But we are still awaiting a firm response from the Indian board," he said.
Pakistani fans are keen to travel to India as three of the five one-day internationals are to be staged in Mohali which is easier to get to from Lahore and in Kanpur and Jaipur which are close to Delhi.
The official said the board was getting a lot of queries from fans who also wanted to see the tests in Delhi, Kolkata and Bangalore.
"Obviously it is a golden chance for the Pakistani fans to not only visit India and do some sightseeing but also watch the cricket. Hopefully the Indians will respond soon," he said.
Sources within the board said that the Indian board this time had also been pretty strict about issuing media accreditations for the series and agreed to increase the number of accreditations after much requests from the PCB.
Similar problems were encountered when India toured Pakistan in 2004 and 2006 and when Pakistan went to India in 2005 since the revival of bilateral cricket ties between the two nations.
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