Pakistani fans left frustrated after failing to bag tickets for the World XI tour

The ICC World XI tour to Pakistan marks the international drought the country has been going through since the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in 2009. It is a massive moment for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Pakistani cricket fans who have been barred from international cricketing action since long. However, many enthusiastic cricket fans of the country returned empty handed on Tuesday after they could not bag the tickets for the World XI tour.

Details:

The World XI tour is scheduled to take place in the upcoming week at the Gaddafi Stadium in Pakistan. A huge crowd gathered at the Liberty Chowk and Lalik Chowk to get hold of the general tickets which were priced at Rs. 500. However, people were left with disappointment as they could not get hold of the tickets which led to the raising of placards and loud slogans against the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The fans waited for a stretch of five hours without any result.

It is reported that the doors of the two major booths in the city were shut and sealed which has left the fans frustrated and angry.

“I have been standing here since 9.00am,” said a middle-aged man at the Liberty Chowk. “I have been to the Gaddafi Stadium and back quite a few times in search of the tickets but there aren’t any available. The authorities had informed us that the tickets would go on sale at 9.00 in the morning but the booths have not opened for ticket sale,” he said angrily.

“People responsible for selling the tickets are telling us that the Rs500 tickets are not available any more. My financial circumstances do not allow me to spend more than that on a ticket,” said another fan.

“The place for the booth is yet to be finalised, we have put it here on a temporary basis,” a logistics officer for eticketing.pk, the PCB’s ticketing partner, said. “Meetings are underway to finalise a definite location. The tickets would not go on sale before tomorrow here at the Liberty Market.”

The PCB media manager also had his say on the situation when asked about the same. “The Lahore Deputy Commissioner Office had asked us to put the tickets sale in the Liberty and Lalik areas on hold for security reasons. He first wants to lay down a security plan as there will be cash involved and the areas will be crowded.” said  Raza Kitchlew.

he further mentioned that the booths at the Emporium Mall and the Packages Mall were selling the high-priced tickets because all the general tickets have been sold out.