Pakistan cricket fans mob special visa office for India tour by AFP

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Event:

Pakistan in India 2004/05

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DateLine: 26th February 2005

 

Around 5,000 Pakistani cricket fans obtained visa forms from a special counter set up by India, allowing them to watch the first tour across the border in six years.

 

Long queues formed outside the office set up by the Indian High Commission (embassy) at the Pakistan Cricket Board's headquarters in the eastern city of Lahore's Gaddafi stadium.

 

"We issued around 5,000 visa forms on the first day," said an Indian official at the office on Friday. "The interest is more than we expected."

 

Applicants must submit the forms on Sunday or Monday along with a fee of 2,500 rupees (65 dollars), which includes the price of a single match ticket for the first Test at Mohali starting from March 8.

 

India plans to issue a total of 10,000 cricket visas to Pakistanis.

 

The High Commission decided to set up visa counters in Lahore, which borders India, and the southern port city of Karachi to process applications for thousands of fans who are keen to visit India for the historic tour.

 

The visa office in Karachi will start working in the first week of March.

 

The special visa offices will remain operative throughout the series.

 

Pakistan arrive in New Delhi on Monday to play three Tests and six one-day games. The tour ends on April 18.

 

"In the first phase visas will be issued for Mohali and Chandigarh for a period of nine days from March 6 to 14," the visa official said.

 

Visitors travelling through the Wagah border, the only land crossing between the nuclear rivals, can enter India on train, bus or by foot, the official added.

 

"However they must exit India by the same mode," he said.

 

Pakistani fans were enthusiastic and large groups are expected to cross the border on foot.

 

"Mohali's close proximity to Lahore gives the Lahorites a golden chance to witness cricket," local car dealer and cricket fan Mohammad Abbas said.

 

The other Test matches are scheduled for Calcutta and Bangalore while one-day games will be played in Cochin, Vishakapatnam, Jamshedpur, Ahmedabad, Kanpur and New Delhi.

 

Visas for other cities will be issued later, said the official.

(Article: Copyright © 2005 AFP)