Fifty per cent tickets at all three Test venues of the ongoing India-Pakistan series are being distributed free by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to overcome lukewarm public response.
Following a successful similar experiment in the recent home series against England, the PCB decided to throw open free half the capacity of the stadiums in Lahore, Faisalabad and Karachi.
"About 50 per cent tickets of the total capacity have been earmarked for free distribution among the public," Naveed Iqbal Cheema, PCB's general manager (development and infrastructure) and ticketing coordinator for the ongoing India-Pakistan series said.
PCB was disillusioned by the empty stands during India's historic tour of Pakistan in 2004.
"We were disappointed when very few people turned up for the 2004 Test series against India," said Cheema.
The board thought hard how to lure crowds back to the stadiums for the five-day Test matches and decided to experiment by distributing free tickets for the three Tests against England. PCB was encouraged by the public response.
"We experimented by distributing free tickets against England and the move was successful," he said.
"In Lahore we distributed about 12,000 tickets free. In two days, all tickets were sold out," he said. He said an equal number of tickets had been distributed for the current Test against India.
{{/usCountry}}"In Lahore we distributed about 12,000 tickets free. In two days, all tickets were sold out," he said. He said an equal number of tickets had been distributed for the current Test against India.
{{/usCountry}}He said that in Multan 11,606 tickets were distributed free against England and in Faisalabad 9,000, which is 60 per cent of the total capacity.
Cheema said that Eid-ul-Azha, the wedding season, school holidays and the devastating earthquake in Kashmir in October have been the reasons for keeping away paid spectators from the Gaddafi Stadium.
"People have exhausted money. Apart from Eid-ul-Azha, the earthquake and marriages have definitely been the biggest reasons for keeping the crowds away," he said.
"But there will be 100 per cent ticket sales for the Faisalabad and Karachi Tests. I am sure there will be full houses at both centres."