Whether on the field or off it, whether men's or women's cricket, Pakistan's performance is nothing to get flattered about in recent years. Before the start of the Asia Cup, Salman Ali Agha's team was very confident about clinching the trophy.
They were ready to beat any opponent, as skipper Agha had indicated. But that didn't happen in reality. They couldn't win even once in three encounters against India. The trophy also slipped away from their sight after losing in the Asia Cup final, where they were thrashed by Team India in an epic encounter.
As a result, Pakistani supporters are now losing faith in the team, which was evident in the Test series against South Africa. Even though ticket sales have started, no one is showing interest in purchasing them, leading to a tanking in sales. So the Pakistan Cricket Board has now resorted to free tickets to fill the stadium.
Pakistan will play a two-Test series against South Africa at home in Lahore and Rawalpindi. In the last series against England, not even a thousand supporters came to the stadium. The same picture was seen in all three Tests.
So, PCB has resorted to free tickets to attract spectators to red-ball cricket. Premium packages and VIP seat prices have also been kept affordable.
The first Test at Gaddafi Stadium starts from October 12. For this match, General, First-class, Premium and VIP (Major Enclosure) entry is free.
Meanwhile, VIP Iqbal and Jinnah End gallery tickets are priced between ₹350 to ₹400 in Indian currency. Platinum box tickets cost approximately ₹3520 for the first four days and ₹4400 for the last day. The same pricing has been kept for the second Test at Rawalpindi Stadium.
However, cricketing experts believe that the Pakistani team management should first focus on correcting the team's mistakes, than trying to revive confidence of cricketing fans on the team.
