22 October 2004	Friday	07 Ramazan 1425

FAISALABAD, Oct 21: Hundreds of cricket fans demonstrated and chanted slogans on Thursday, against the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and district administration for not selling tickets at the booths outside Iqbal Stadium where the first Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka is being played.

The fans, mostly students gathered at the Stadium and were waiting patiently for the booths to open since early morning. However, to their dismay the authorities only sold a few tickets and immediately closed the counters after just half an hour.

The disappointed cricket-fans started chanting slogans against the PCB and local administration alleging that entry was begin given only to "favourites" of guards on duty and senior officials concerned.

Some protesters were manhandled and beaten up by the police but later they dispersed peacefully.

No official was available for comment about the details of sale of tickets from counters at the Stadium.

Meanwhile, security was very tight on the second day also. Heavy police contingents were deployed around the stadium to avoid any untoward incident.

Scores of ticket holders were seen returning disappointed when they failed to enter the stadium due to strict security arrangements.