Hundreds of cricket fans who turned up at the Pakistan high commission in New Delhi on Thursday and Friday and jostled with each other to get visas for the India-Pakistan series in Pakistan from March 13 were disappointed after being told there was no confirmation about their tickets from the Pakistan Cricket Board and they would have to turn up again on Monday.
Those who received confirmation faxes from the PCB were told to return later after Pakistani officials accepted their visa forms.
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A special counter to deal with visas for the upcoming series has been opened. Those wanting to watch matches in the one-day series will be given a three-day visa while an eight-day visa will be issued for a Test.
Fans will not be allowed to change their mode of transport to Pakistan once an option has been selected. Tickets for travel -- either by air, the Samjhauta Express and the Delhi-Lahore bus will be issued only to those having conformed visas.
Pakistan Deputy High Commissioner Munnawar Sayeed Bhatti told newsmen 8,000 visas for the one-day and Test series will be issued.
"Visa seekers will be given visas within 24 hours of receipt of their applications," he said.
But Indian cricket fans who travelled to Delhi from various places in the country to submit their visa forms had a different story to tell.
Gaurav Chaudhary and Vipin Punia had come from Rohtak to submit their visa forms only to find that the window was closed before time.
"We reached well before the time to submit our applications but we found the window was closed. Now we will have to come again. Both of us bought our tickets for the one-day game, to be played at Lahore on March 21st , through the Internet. Our confirmation from the PCB has not yet come. Let us see whether they give us visas or not," Gaurav and Vipin, both final year B.Sc, students, told rediff.com.
Chandigarh-based Mahesh Sharma (47), an artist by profession, too is in Delhi to try his luck for a visa to watch the one-day game on March 21.
"Let us see what happens. I had applied for my ticket through the Internet on March 1 and the confirmation came the same day.
"I came here to submit my visa form and was told to attach the confirmation letter from the PCB. What is more annoying is that even after getting my confirmation letter from the PCB, I have to attach another letter from the Punjab Cricket Association.
"I expect to spend Rs 20,000 to watch just one match and that too a One-Day International. If I get someone to share the hotel accommodation then the cost could come down a bit, though not much," Mahesh said.
Inderpreet Singh from Delhi applied for a visa for nine days. He wants to watch three ODI matches, at Rawalpindi, Peshawar and Lahore, on March 16,19 and 21 respectively, but is unsure whether he'll be allotted one for that many days.
What's bothering visa seekers is that in the event of not being issued a visa by the Pakistani authorities their money will not be refunded.
A ticket for a One-Day International costs Rs 700 while that for a Test is Rs 1600.
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