Pakistan Cricket Board.© X (formerly Twitter)
For the primary time, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is just not distributing free passes for enclosures, VIP areas, or hospitality boxes through the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy, a departure from past practices for international series in Pakistan. Typically each time a world series is held in Pakistan, the PCB reserves tickets to be given out as free passes to some stakeholders including the media, government departments, VIPs and sponsors. Nonetheless, this time aside from a number of tickets given to the Chairman for his personal guests and sponsors, the PCB has not been allocated any quota for complimentary passes, an official source near the ticketing process for the Champions Trophy said.
“The PCB officials are facing a variety of pressure as those used to getting free passes are asking them for the freebies but are being told that because the International Cricket Council controls the ticketing of the tournament there aren’t any free passes,” the source said.
“It becomes very difficult explaining this to the federal government departments involved in the various logistical points of the organisation of matches and the VVIPs who expect free passes.” The source said even when India visited Pakistan in 2004 after 14 years, there was massive demand for tickets and the then PCB chairman, Shaharyar Khan had initially decided there can be no free passes but had to vary his decision as a result of mounting pressure from stakeholders.
“This time all of the people you see within the enclosures within the stadium are paying customers no freebies,” he added.
He said the response to ticket sales have been strong, particularly for Saturday’s Australia vs England match on the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
“Hopefully the stadium can be full by the point the second innings begins within the evening,” he said.
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