Unlike the bonhomie at view in Mohali between the Indian and Pakistani fans, the Eden Gardens in Kolkata would not see any such friendship as no tickets were sold for the second Test in Pakistan, nor any visas issued.
In the backdrop of reports in local media in Pakistan over the emotional welcome and friendly treatment accorded to around 3000 Pakistan cricket fans in Chandigarh and other parts of Punjab during the Mohali Test, there is a huge disappointment among Pakistanis that not a single one of them could travel to watch the second Test.
The Indian High Commission officials in Islamabad said no visas have been issued for Kolkata match as the Pakistan Cricket Board had not made any arrangements to sell tickets for the second Test.
The PCB has left the entire sale of tickets to American Express, which has not brought tickets for the Kolkata Test for sale in Pakistan, an Indian High Commission official said.
Since no tickets were sold, no visas were also issued as all cricket visas were linked with the sale of tickets, he said.
Even though the much awaited series was projected from the beginning as a major confidence building measure by both the Governments to improve relations, tickets and visas turned out to be a be major issue.
The first surprise came as PCB managed to sell only 3000 tickets and returned over 4500 out of the 7500 offered for the Mohali Test which was expected to draw the highest number of fans due to its proximity to the Wagah border.
Eventually only around 3000 fans went for Mohali and returned with pleasant memories of the Indian hospitality.
Expecting a huge rush the Indian High Commission opened special windows for visas as well as special camps in Lahore and Karachi but was disappointed with the public response.
The PCB officials for their part blamed the uncertainity over the series and the last minute finalisation of venues as the main reasons for the confusion as there was little time to collect and sell tickets.
They also said that many Pakistan fans were not enthusiastic that Indian visas will be issued only for the venues of the matches and with a rigid time frame to return.
Like for instance a number of Pakistanis who wanted to go to Mohali also wanted to go sightseeing to Delhi which was not possible under the cricket visa, the PCB officials argued.
Though the arrangement of visa for ticket was agreed much on the same pattern during India's tour to Pakistan last year, PCB officials want more flexibility in issuing visas for the rest of the matches for the series which ends on April 18.
The Indian officials on the other hand argues that PCB adopted a commercial approach for the sale of tickets and handed over responsibility to American Express which wants visas to be issued first so that the cricket fans could go to India and buy tickets.
"This approach is extremely unwieldy and impractical," an Indian official said.
If PCB and American Express had tried hard they could have sold atleast over 100 tickets for the Kolkata Test, he said adding that suggestions to have some one from American Express flying to Kolkata to get the tickets or getting them by courier were not taken.
"We are sad that no Pakistani will be present at Kolkata. We wish things could have been more organised on the ticket front," he said.
It appears now that not many cricket fans would be present for the rest of the matches, including for many one dayers except for the last match in Delhi if the present problems over ticket sales were not tied up properly.
Both PCB and Indian officials agree that it was unlikely that many Pakistanis would prefer travel to places like Kochi or Vishakhapatnam without the problems regarding tickets and visas sorted out.
The Indian High Commission however expects a big rush for the last one day match to be played on April 17 in Delhi.
"We expect around a 1000 or more Pakistan fans to travel to Delhi. All arrangements are in place to grant visas provided the tickets are sold in a more organised form," the Indian official said.
