While ticket counters for the first India-Pakistan Test to be held at Mohali have registered brisk sales, organisers have been flooded with a rush of complimentary pass seekers for the match.
The organisers, Punjab Cricket Association (PCA), said the major demand for complimentary passes for the March 8-12 Test was from state capital Chandigarh and adjoining towns of Mohali and Panchkula.
A senior PCA member admitted on Tuesday that with so many VIPs around the list of complimentary pass seekers was "never-ending".
The 40,000-capacity PCA stadium — considered one of the best in the country — was expecting a full house during the five-day match.
A public interest suit has been filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court by a lawyer demanding that the PCA be restrained from giving such passes.
"Mohali does not get matches very often these days owing to Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) politics and whenever a match comes here, the free-loaders want to make the most of it without paying," the PCA member added.
"Rather than buying tickets, it is also considered a status symbol here to be seen with a complimentary pass for the match," said one enthusiastic son of a bureaucrat requesting anonymity.
{{/usCountry}}"Rather than buying tickets, it is also considered a status symbol here to be seen with a complimentary pass for the match," said one enthusiastic son of a bureaucrat requesting anonymity.
{{/usCountry}}The complimentary pass seeking VIPs also insist that they be given passes only for the terrace block (over the pavilion) or the limited boxes available.
Over the last three days, ever since ticket sales started, cricket fans have been thronging PCA sale counters and a private bank in Chandigarh to buy tickets.
Despite the hike in rates — an almost 100 per cent increase — in every category of seats, sales were reported to be brisk by individuals as well as institutional purchases.