KARACHI, March 19: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) failed to honour its commitment when it cancelled without reason 666 tickets - the sum of which was paid in advance - for visitors from India for the final two matches of the ongoing One-day International series in Lahore.

According to details available with Dawn, 666 tickets in the denomination of Rs1500 (Raja Brothers Enclosure) were booked through the PCB Online Ticketing service by a local representative of the Indian guests for the two ODIs at the Qadhafi Stadium scheduled for March 21 and March 24.

On March 6, PCB issued the final confirmation letter while acknowledging that it had received a pay-order of Rs999,000 for the number of tickets bought.

On the basis of the ticket confirmation letter, the local representative informed the Indian guests so that they could apply for the visa, for which the request was made in Pakistan through the Foreign Office and the Ministry of Interior and a special request was also made to the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi which granted visas.

In order to confirm hotels and travelling arrangements for the Indian guests, the representative made advance payments to the tune of approximately Rs1.5 million. However, on March 17, the local representative got the shock of his life when the PCB office rang him to inform that it (the PCB) won't be able to provide tickets for the Lahore matches.

The PCB chairman, Shaharyar M. Khan, told the representative in writing that: "Due to intense pressure on tickets for the Lahore ODIs on 21st and 24th March, the PCB has most reluctantly decided to reduce the quota for tickets that you had reserved for your distinguished guests.

"We have therefore been obliged to curtail the allocation because of the demand from abroad. "You would kindly appreciate the constraints on the PCB and share with us the need to honour our guests."

A day later (March 18), the PCB ticket coordinator sent the following note to the representative: "We regret to inform you that due to circumstances explained in the letter attached by chairman, PCB, we are unable to fulfil your requirements for tickets.

"In this regard we would like to reimburse you entirely or for the remaining amount after we issue you a reduced number of tickets compared to your demands." The local representative, in a desperate move, went to Peshawar on Thursday, but came back disappointed as both the PCB chief and Ramiz Raja, the PCB's chief executive, gave him a cold shoulder while refusing to overturn the decision of cancelling the tickets.

According to reports some of the guests were already in Lahore and others were expected to arrive on Saturday for Sunday's match, but unfortunately the visitors will not be able to witness the ODIs due to PCB's failure to honour its commitment.