February 18, 2006	Saturday	Muharram 19, 1427

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KARACHI, Feb 17: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), running on ad hoc basis for the past six years, has made a mockery of President Gen Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz’s directives to end VIP culture, by issuing thousands of complimentary tickets for five ODIs against India which resulted in mismanagement and created law and order situation.

The PCB top officials before the England and Indian tours had unashamedly gone to the press claiming that they had got rid of VIP culture and even quoted directives of president and prime minister not to issue complimentary and free tickets.

The tickets farce has not only brought the game into disrepute, but also tarnished the image of the country.

The PCB top brass had even the audacity to admit that they had to issue free and complimentary tickets for certain individuals and enterprises.

Ticket holders were unable to enter the stadiums in Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Lahore and Multan while the law enforcing personnel and local administration officials managed to get their near and dear ones into the ground free.

One prime example was witnessed in Peshawar where more than 20 Indian journalists could not enter the stadium for a long time and were eventually let in by a strong police contingent using strong arm tactics.

Besides thousands of fans who went from pillar to the post to buy tickets were treated with disrespect by the designated bank’s staff as well as baton charged by law enforcement agencies personnel.

The blame entirely lies on the PCB officials specially those entrusted with the task of sale of tickets.

In the past when several banks used to sell tickets there were less problems in obtaining tickets

The same scenario could occur in Sunday’s final ODI at the National Stadium as tickets of higher denominations never saw the light of the day.

According to a PCB official the higher denomination tickets were “sold on the Internet as well as to corporate entities in Karachi, sponsors and provincial administrative partners”.

According to a rough estimate the PCB has obliged people of influence by giving away more than 5,000 free and complimentary tickets for the fifth and final ODI under the guise of corporate entities, sponsors and provincial administrative partners.

On Friday, PCB issued a press release saying that the process of sale of tickets for fifth ODI had been completed and only ticket holders should come to National Stadium for the match.