18 February 2004	Wednesday	26 Zilhaj 1424

KARACHI, Feb 17: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to sell tickets for the crowd-pulling series between Pakistan and India through a computerised network.

Shaharyar M. Khan, the PCB chairman, told Dawn here on Tuesday that it was imperative that the tickets were sold through a computerised system to avoid menace of fraud and black marketing.

"We have opted to use this facility so that the paying public doesn't have to suffer the consequences of being turned away at the gates while others take advantage by selling tickets in black," he said.

"This way at least, people will get opportunities to apply and buy tickets through Internet and have their seats reserved. Once everything is finalized, we will duly announce in advance when the tickets will go on sale."

In the past, the tickets were mainly sold through appointed branches of banks, but he conceded that generally it created unwanted problems.

"The genuine ticket-holders found upon arrival at the stadium that somebody else had occupied the seats originally allocated to them. This ticketing process is a common practice in countries such as Australia, England, South Africa etc."

The PCB chief, meanwhile, hoped that India will play Tests at Karachi and Peshawar despite the reservation expressed by the three-member Indian delegation regarding duration of the cricket team's stay in these cities.

"Honestly speaking, we would like to have matches played at Karachi and Peshawar since these two cities were deprived of hosting top international cricket in the past few seasons.But we have to take stock of the situation arising out of this unexpected development. The final outcome depends on what the Indian cricket board approves and gives last touches to the itinerary."