Background and Summary of External Audit Report - Allocation of tickets
during Pakistan-India series 2004
The following factors are relevant in understanding the allocation of tickets during the Pakistan-India series:
(a) For the first time, computer bar-coded tickets were issued for all reserved seats in the stadiums. These bar coded tickets eliminated forgeries and maintained up-dated accounts of marked seats on sale.
(b) No complimentary tickets were issued but, depending on the size of the Chairman's box in each stadium (large in Lahore/Karachi, small in Rawalpindi/Peshawar/Multan), invitations were issued to selected cricket-oriented personalities.
(c) The President had fully supported the PCB in opposing VIP culture and had set an example in purchasing tickets for his family. VIPs were therefore requested to purchase their own tickets. A proportion of tickets were held back by PCB for late purchase of tickets by VIPs.
2. The interplay of the above stated factors needs to be understood in explaining the dispensation of tickets.
Bar-coded Tickets
3. As every reserved seat was computer accounted, it was necessary for every ticket-holder to pass through the bar coded entrance-gate to reach his numbered seat. Since there were no complimentary tickets or dedicated enclosures for persons who were entitled to free seats e.g. contractual partners, administrative partners, former Test players, family members of both teams etc., these categories were given franchised tickets (i.e. tickets that needed to be accounted for in the computer). The list of categories issued franchised tickets, as they were entitled to free seats, is as follows:
(a) Sponsors to whom a certain number of free seats had been committed through contracts.
(b) Handicapped children.
(c) Cricket administrators, umpires, Test players. (Due to extreme pressure Test players had been allotted middle level tickets instead of best quality).
(d) PCB's administrative partners, e.g. city administration, WAPDA, police, security agencies, telecom etc.
(e) Home and foreign players' families and friends (according to Standard Operating Procedure).
(f) PCB Officials (according to Standard Operating Procedure).
4. The External Audit has confirmed that these categories were issued franchised
tickets.
5. Learning from the experience, the PCB decided during the subsequent Triangular Series to allocate dedicated enclosures for the above categories so that franchised tickets on sale could be separated from our obligation to provide free seats - as is customary throughout the cricketing world. In this way the accounting of franchised tickets and complimentary tickets became clear and transparent.
Invitations to Chairman's Boxes
6. Invitations to the Chairmans boxes to cricket oriented personalities must not be confused with opposing VIP culture. These invitations were issued to visiting ICC members, to distinguished visitors from India (e.g. Mrs. Dina Wadia, Priyanka and Rahul Gandhi), BCCI Board members, leading sponsors, former PCB Chairmen and Pakistans cricket icons. Federal Ministers and Secretaries who had been actually involved in the cricketing arrangements for the tour e.g. those holding the portfolios of Interior, Information, and Sport), Heads of Security Agencies, Editors and Ambassadors/High Commissioners were also invited to the Chairman's boxes.
7. In the stadiums where the Chairman's boxes are large (Karachi/Lahore) the above category of invitees could be accommodated but in stadiums with smaller capacity, there was an inevitable over-flow from the Chairman's boxes. This was particularly acute in Rawalpindi/Islamabad because of the presence of a large number of Ambassadors, Ministers, and Secretaries to Government present in the capital. Accordingly, an entire stand shown against franchised tickets had to be allocated to these invitees, as no complimentary tickets had been issued.
Indian Visitors
8. The initial visa quota for Indian cricket fans agreed between the two Governments was 8000. As the series progressed with thrilling matches, welcoming crowds and well administered arrangements, the actual number of visas given to Indian visitors was 20,000. The bulk of these additional Indian visitors arrived for the last two ODIs at Lahore some of whom arrived in chartered corporate jets. It became incumbent on the PCB to, somehow, adjust this huge influx of Indian cricket fans with seats. Accordingly, invitees to the already overcrowded Chairman's boxes were requested to accept franchised tickets to the best enclosures and to cede their places in the Chairmans boxes to the Indian visitors that included Cabinet Ministers, Test selectors, BCCI Executives and financiers. Some of our leading sponsors representatives were moved from the Chairman's box to make-shift mini-boxes in the players rooms overlooking the ground. In short, a large number of invitees to the Chairman's boxes were moved to franchised ticket seats because of eleventh hour arrivals of visitors.
9. As PCB had only 18 days in which to organise this momentous event (itinerary finally approved on February 19, arrival of team March 9), the entire ticketing process had to be put in place in great haste which led, initially, to some spectator inconvenience.
Opposing VIP Culture
10. In the past, Pakistan's image as a disciplined, organised country had been seriously dented at important cricket matches by VIP's claiming complimentary tickets as a right. These VIP's included Ministers (who had no connection with cricket) Secretaries, Senior Police, services officers and members of government. The ugliest incident occurred during the World Cup 1995 when the entire Chairman's Box was occupied by Lahore's elite for their families and relatives and the PCB Chairman's invitees that included ICC President/Chief Executive and many other foreign VIPs, returned to their hotels in disgust. For every tour there is a demand by VIP's for complimentary tickets, mainly for their children and families.
11. To discourage VIP culture, no complimentary tickets were printed as part of a policy approved by the President and Prime Minister. Thus no complimentary tickets were issued to VIPs who were encouraged to purchase tickets on the market. In fact, a decision was taken by PCB to hold-back a limited quota of seats in order to meet eleventh hour demands from VIPs for the purchase of tickets.
Summary of External Audit Report
12. The following is a summary of the External Audit Report:
(a) TV and Sponsorship Rights
The PCB bidding procedure for TV and various sponsorship rights (Title Sponsorship - co-sponsorship, Radio broadcasting, instadia advertising etc.) has been examined and confirmed as transparent and that 99.9% of the payments have been duly received.
(b) Installation of Chairs (i.e. advertising, leasing and processing
by PCB Procurement Committee)
The external audit has confirmed that proper procedures for the installation of 2975 fiber glass chairs at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore and 3000 chairs at the National Stadium Karachi, were processed through prescribed procedures. Only in the case of 5000 chairs in Multan, were the tenders not advertised due to shortage of time, but were called for on the telephone. Three offers were duly processed and the order placed. (Despite the extreme shortage of time, chairs for Multan were in fact purchased at a lower price than the ones installed in Karachi and Lahore).
Tickets
13. External auditors have given the following figures after completing their
audit. The summary is as under:
Tickets
Rupees (Face value)
Total printed tickets
115,896
90,694,211
Tickets sold
90,815
61,148,127
Tickets witdrawn by PCB
13,417
16,991,850
Unsold tickets in hand
11,264
12,014,234
14. The second chart, given below, states the detailed match-wise break-up of tickets withdrawn by PCB to meet the demand of administrative partners, contractual obligations, Indian Visitors, Sponsors Invitees and others as shown below:
Match
On behalf of PCB
Contractual Obligations
First ODI
1,855
745
Second ODI
1,398
703
Third ODI
311
616
Fourth ODI
3,255
804
Fifth ODI
2,502
1,228
Total:
9,321
4,096
(Grand Total 9,321 + 4,096 = 13,417)
15. From the above figures, it is evident that the distribution of a total number of 9,321 seats equals to Rs. 11,290,200 of withheld tickets needs to be explained.
16. 4,988 tickets amounting of Rs 5,892,500 were sold & cash directly received by PCB. Balance of 4,333 equal to Rs. 5,397,700 (i.e. average of 841 seats per venue (4333 ÷ 5) was distributed to the following categories in block seats (i.e. not on an individual accountable basis):
