Pakistan Cricket Fans Lap Up Tickets for Home Series vs Zimbabwe
Pakistani cricket fans have not seen any international match in their country since 2009.
Starved of international cricket for more than five years, Pakistani fans are all excited about the upcoming home series against Zimbabwe which has ensured a brisk sale of tickets for the limited-overs matches.
Tickets for the two T20 matches followed by three ODIs have been selling well, claimed the Pakistan Cricket Board. (Also read: ICC refuses to appoint umpires for Pakistan vs Zimbabwe series)
"The response for the tickets has been good so far and it appears Pakistani cricket lovers want to show their support for the first visit by a test team to Pakistan since 2009," PCB's Chief Operating Officer Subhan Ahmad said.
The PCB has decided to sell the tickets through outlets in Lahore and Ahmad said demand for the tickets ranging from Rs 150 to 1500 has been good.
"Pakistani people have always loved and supported cricket and sports and we are confident that despite strong security measures they will show up in good numbers to send a message to the rest of the cricket world that international cricket can be played in Pakistan," he said.
Tickets carry the slogan "igniting a passion which brings a nation together". The PCB official said the series was not about money for Pakistan but about telling the world that the country is capable of providing a secure environment for international cricket.
After Cricket Zimbabwe's initial refusal to send its team to Pakistan on which they later retracted, the PCB and Punjab government have beefed up security measures for the visiting team.
At a high level meeting presided by the Punjab Home Minister it was decided to increase the number of policemen and commandos to provide security cover for the teams and at the Gaddafi stadium to around 6000.
The Police also carried out a search operation in and around the Gaddafi stadium on Sunday in which two suspects were rounded up for questioning.
The PCB has asked all the shops and restaurants located on the outer side of the Gaddafi stadium to close their business for the duration of the Zimbabwean tour.
The Zimbabwe squad is scheduled to land in Lahore on May 19 followed by the first T20 on the May 22 and the second on the May 24.
The T20 series will be followed by three one-day internationals on May 26, 29, and 31 at the Gaddafi stadium.