Cramped at cricket visa camp

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal">AMRITSAR: The turnout of those seeking to go to Pakistan to watch cricket was low, yet chaos reigned at the temporary visa camp organised by the high commission of Pakistan, near here, on Friday.<br /><br />Queues had started forming early in the morning. Some enthusiasts spent the night in their vehicles parked near the camp but were bitter that even that was of no help as people with connections were entertained through thebackdoor.<br /><br />Many were disappointed after it was announced that visas would be issued only to those who had ticket confirmation for the March 21 onedayer and that those keen on the the March 24 match would have to come again on Saturday.<br /><br />"Why couldn''t they provide relevant information in advance?" asked Parveen Mahajan of Jalandhar, who blamed the administration for mismanagement at the camp.M Randhawa said he was not able to obtain a visa as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had not sent confirmation of his ticket via Internet even two days after he had registered himself with them.<br /><br />Uhay, who had travelled all the way from Gujarat, alleged that while the Pak high commission in Delhi was giving priority to Muslim cricket fans, in Amritsar, things went smoothly only for the influential.<br /><br />Amidst frayed tempers, only Sunil Bhatia, the first to get the visa, wore a broad smile. "All the jostling and arguing with the officials was worth it, after all," he gushed.<br /><br />Visa officer Mohammad Khalid Jamali said visas would be given to all those who had ticket confirmation from the PCB for the two onedayers to be played at Lahore.<br /><br />An official press release said 950 visa forms had been distributed and, till 5 pm, more than 500 visas were issued. Some fans were denied visa for reasons of non-validity of passports or lack of confirmed tickets etc.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Amritsar deputy commissioner Raminder Singh said that special buses to ferry visa-holders to Wagha border would start plying from 6.30 am from MK Hotel, Ranjit Avenue, on Saturday. Slogan-shouting at the visa camp.<br /><br /><formid=526372></formid=526372></div> </div>