14 March 2004	Sunday	22 Muharram 1425

KARACHI, March 13: The city remained in the grip of cricket fever on Saturday, as most of the people were glued to their television sets to watch the first Pakistan-India one day international match , played at the National Stadium.

As the city's population was more than 13 million and the capacity of the National Stadium was only 35,000, a majority of citizens was left with no choice but to watch the thrilling match between the two traditional rivals on their TV sets.

In many localities, youths had pitched tents and made arrangements for a large screen television set so that people of their area could watch the match and enjoy it.

Three cinema houses in the metropolis - Bambino, Scala and Universal - had also made arrangements for displaying the match on big screens. Advertisements were also published in a section of press to inform people about this arrangement. It was the unique example and many people got tickets to watch the match on big screen.

The city wore a deserted look on the day, as many shops and small markets in different localities remained closed and public transport remained thin. Only a few private vehicles were seen plying on city roads during the day-long match.

Observing the local holiday as announced by the provincial government, all the provincial departments and schools remained close on Saturday. The federal government institutions and offices were open, however, the attendance was very thin there too.

Most of the shops in main markets of Hyderi and Tariq Road also remained close. Though some of the markets in Saddar and Boulten Market were open, the shopkeepers were waiting for customers, who had disappeared from the markets.

Many shopkeepers had brought small television sets at their shops to watch the interesting match between the two rivals, which was being played after a long break. People were also seen in the electronic market of Saddar, who thronged the shops to buy television sets especially to watch the match.

At all the offices of the federal government's run National Database Registration Authority were open, but a very thin number of applicants turned up there, as people mostly prefer to watch the match at their homes.

In many localities of the city, youths took out small processions on motorcycles and cars. Holding the national flag, they roamed around different streets and chanted slogans in favour of the Pakistani cricket team. Such motorcades were seen in Nazimabad, North Nazimabad, Federal B Area and some other parts of the city.

Meanwhile, heavy deployment of the police and blockade of routes leading to the stadium at different points resulted in providing a peaceful environment for organizers of the match as well as the spectators.

Following the match, the spectators left the stadium under tight security, as the police took every possible step to maintain law and order. All the routes leading to the stadium were closed for general public at Expo Centre, Aga Khan Hospital, Dalmia roundabout, and Karsaz Road at the junction of Tipu Sultan Road. Only those were allowed who had the tickets.

People in public transport alighted at the Expo Centre, where a shuttle bus service carried the spectators to the stadium.

The police had asked the spectators to line up and they were allowed to embark the shuttle after the police checked their tickets. However, some brawls between youths and policemen were witnessed during long queues.

At the stadium, deployment was made in two layers - one at the outer boundary and the other at the inner boundary wall.

A DSP level official was deployed at each gate of the stadium. A spectator said that the police were found courteous and polite unlike the usual behaviour.

Spectators were not allowed to take fruits, water bottles, transistors, cameras, and other solid things with them inside the stadium. The police also checked the flags and the people were only allowed to take national flags of Pakistan and India inside the stadium.

Many people complained that there was no proper arrangement for food inside the stadium.

A senior police official said: "We have divided the enclosures in five zones - red, green, orange, blue and yellow." The security at the red zone, which was the enclosure for players and VIPs, was the responsibility of Rangers. The police were deployed at the remaining four zones. He said that surveillance cameras were installed to put a check on suspicious elements inside the stadium.

A police helicopter was also flying over the stadium with intervals for security purpose.