Delhi, Ahmedabad top visa demand list

INDIA HAS so far issued 3,000 visas to Pakistanis for next week?s first Test at Mohali but there is an overwhelming response for the matches in New Delhi, Ahmedabad and Bangalore, said an official of the American Express bank that is selling tickets in Pakistan

INDIA HAS so far issued 3,000 visas to Pakistanis for next week’s first Test at Mohali but there is an overwhelming response for the matches in New Delhi, Ahmedabad and Bangalore, said an official of the American Express bank that is selling tickets in Pakistan.

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The Punjab Cricket Association, organisers of the first Test beginning at Mohali on March 8, has sent 7,500 tickets to the PCB. “These 7,500 tickets are just for the first Test, but there are thousands in Pakistan who want to visit other cities,” said Junani.

The biggest demand, said Junani, was for New Delhi where the sixth and final ODI will be played on April 17. “We would like to get about 8,000-10,000 tickets for the match,” he said.

Surprisingly, Ahmedabad is also in great demand. “We are getting a lot of queries about the Ahmedabad one-dayer. The reason is that a lot of people in Karachi have their roots in Ahmedabad and Mumbai and they also want to meet their relatives there,” he said.

He said Pakistanis were also keen to watch the third Test at Bangalore, starting March 24.

“I think that 1,000 to 1,500 people would be coming to watch the Bangalore match, provided we get timely intimation about tickets from the Indian cricket board,” said the official.