KARACHI, Oct 7: Regardless of whether England or Pakistan come out on top in their upcoming cricket series, the big winners are likely to be the Pakistan’s hotel owners. Pakistan expects an massive invasion by England’s “Barmy Army” of fans on a high following Michael Vaughan’s side’s historic Ashes triumph over rivals Australia last month.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said the English cricket authorities had warned them to brace for a rush of supporters due to soaring interest in the game.

“We expect four times more than the usual number of guests and fans,” a PCB official said.

“At the moment we can’t give the exact number but we are liaising with the England and Wales Cricket Board and Pakistan’s High Commission (embassy) in England,”

England arrive in Pakistan on Oct 26 to play three Tests and five one-day matches. The first Test starts in the central city of Multan from Nov 12.

Just as an influx of Indian fans provided a windfall for Pakistani hoteliers during India’s tour last year, the business has high hopes during the England series.

“There are no rooms during the Test match because all our 94 rooms are booked,” said Naveed Nazir of the Holiday Inn, the only four-star hotel in Multan, which is charging US$150 a day. Other smaller hotels have doubled their rates to US$75 and 100 a day.

Faisalabad, the venue of the second Test from November 20, is even more jammed as all 140 rooms in the only five-star hotel, the Serena, have been booked by the PCB for teams, guests and fans.

And the border city of Lahore expects fans from neighbouring India as well as England for the third Test from Nov 29, as well as for the first two one-day internationals in early December.

“It’s business time for us,” said Farhan Zakir, sales director at the five-star hotel Pearl Continental, which has rooms available but at a high price of US$250 to 300 a day.

Ticket sales are likely to start next week through the Internet and banks, so the ball is already rolling.

In the meantime the PCB is also completing security preparations for the England team as well as for the Barmy Army. England said they would only play a one-day instead of a proposed Test in country’s biggest city Karachi.—AFP