November 01, 2007	Thursday	Shawwal 19, 1428

LAHORE, Oct 31: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has only allocated 250 VIP tickets to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), for each one-day match and Test matches of the forthcoming series, except one at Guwahati, between the two arch rivals, depriving common people of watching the matches.

The Pakistan team is leaving for India on Thursday to play five one-day and three Test matches.

A ticket is priced at Pak Rupees 9,500, while in Indian currency it is equivalent to Rupees 5,000, apiece.

In order to secure Indian visa, a return ticket and hotel booking slip is necessary, the average person may have less chances to go to India to watch the matches.

As most of the VIP personalities in Pakistan had been watching the matches free on the invitation of the Pakistan Cricket Board, it is likely the board could not sell out all the tickets and will prefer to oblige ‘influential persons’ to go India on free trip as their guest.

India had offered visas in thousands while hosting Pakistan last time in 2005.