January 23, 2006	Monday	Zilhaj 22, 1426

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FAISALABAD, Jan 22: The second day’s play of the second Test between Pakistan and India on Sunday saw possibly the biggest crowd in a single day at the Iqbal Stadium for many years. The stadium, which can accommodate roughly 16,000 spectators, was crammed well over that capacity on the weekly holiday. All stands were packed with people of all ages.

In fact, the situation outside the ground give a chaotic appearance as one walked around the stadium with hundreds lurking on the roads and the adjacent recreational parks.

A number of them were genuine ticket-holders who were turned away at the gates because freeloaders had managed to get whisked into the ground with the help of local organizers.

When Shahid Afridi was at the crease in the first session, the stands were overfilled while thousands outside the stadium waited in vain to catch a glimpse of the flamboyant all-rounder smashing the Indian bowling to all parts of the stadium.

It was only after the dismissal of Afridi, the crowd began to thin out

The Pakistan Cricket Board’s decision to distribute 50 per cent of all tickets on a complimentary basis during the Test series this season has paid off handsomely.

The first day of the current Test match drew a fairly large crowd. But had the PCB planned it sensibly, the Faisalabad public would have filled the ground even if they were asked to pay for tickets from their own pockets on Sunday.