To Lahore, for the great game

Because of the recurring uncertainties over the tour, travel agencies have not really got off the ground in planning itineraries. Sita World Travel, for instance, has only one confirmed package on offer: For INR 13,000, they promise to take you to the Karachi ODI (March 12-15), the figure covering visa costs, PIA economy class return fares from Mumbai, match ticket, three nights at the Avari Towers, three dinners at the hotel, one lunch at a local restaurant, a half-day city tour and all taxes. The package is only available to groups of 10 or more.

SOTC is also planning all-inclusive ODI packages for anything between INR 39,000 and 50,000 per person.

Thomas Cook is still in the process of finalising its packages. But it is looking at an all-ODI, all-city deal for INR 45,000, inclusive of air tickets, match tickets, taxes and lodging in four-star hotels. Two-match, three-night packages are also on the cards. Both will be open to individuals and groups.

Because bulk sales of match tickets is still a grey area, other travel agencies exclude the privilege from their packages. But the deals are still worth a dekko: Stic Travels will cover the two Lahore ODIs (March 21, 24) in $150 per person two-night, three-day packages, throwing in a Delhi-Lahore-Delhi flight, four-star hotel stay with breakfast, sightseeing and airport transfers.

Stic is also working on a pick-up deal for anyone walking across Wagah for the Lahore matches. This, of course, is dependent on government clearances.

For the Karachi ODI (March 13) — two night-three day packages for which are priced at $200 — Stic is looking largely at groups.

With Lahore and Karachi emerging as the most favoured destinations, KTC India offers similar three-day, two-night packages, covering three-star stays, sightseeing, airport and stadium transfers for $285 for groups of two-four people. If the strength increases, prices fall to $190. A similar package for Rawalpindi will cost $310. For five-star upgrades, add $45.

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Ticket to ride

Indian Airlines
Delhi-Lahore-Delhi: Rs 6,795 + taxes (economy); Rs 8830 + taxes (business)

PIA
Delhi-Lahore-Delhi: Rs 10,310 + taxes
Delhi-Islamabad-Delhi: Rs 10,455 +taxes
Delhi-Karachi-Lahore-Delhi: Rs 15,000 + taxes

BUS
Delhi-Lahore: Rs 1,250 per person (one way)

RAIL
Delhi-Lahore via Attari: Rs 164 (general class); Rs 259 (sleeper class)
(all fares in Indian rupees)

Match & mouse
• Non-Pakistani individuals can log on to http://www.pcbtickets. cricket.org, http://www.pcb. cricket. org or visit http://www.cricinfo.com to buy a match ticket with a credit or debit card. Rates range from 8-14 pounds for an ODI and 15-20 pounds for the Tests. 35 per cent of tickets of all matches are for sale on the Net.
• A printout of the receipt produced at the match venue will procure the actual ticket.
• You can choose where to sit. Seats for foreigners are marked in specific, adjacent enclosures.

Peshawar (NWFP)
• MATCH: ODI: March 19
• STADIUM CAPACITY: Arbab Niaz Stadium seats 20,000
• SEATS FOR FOREIGNERS: 3,400
• GETTING THERE: Not directly accessible from India. You could fly to Islamabad and then make your way overland to Peshawar.
• HOTELS: Pearl Continental, Khan Klub, Rose
• DO: Soak in the romance of the older part of the 2,000-year-old city. Browse for bargains at Smugglers’ Bazar. Make a long day-trip to the legendary Khyber Pass. And sample the brilliant local snacks.
• DON’T: Stray from the beaten track. This is as close as you’ll get to Taliban country without actually going into Afghanistan.

Rawalpindi Punjab
• MATCHES: d/n ODI: March 16. Test: April 13-17
• STADIUM CAPACITY: Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium seats 15,000
• SEATS FOR FOREIGNERS: 3,000
• GETTING THERE: PIA flies to Islamabad from Delhi.
• HOTELS: Gatmells (PKR 440). Better bets: Best Western (INR 11,280), Pearl Continental.
• DO: Go for a day-trip to Taxila, 30 minutes away, for a crash course in 1 AD history. If ruins don’t turn you on, talk a walk around the bustling Rajah Bazar.
• DON’T: Bother going 15 km across to Islamabad, yet another of those planned cities.

Lahore Punjab
• MATCHes: d/n ODI: March 21, 24.
• Test: April 5-9
• STADIUM CAPACITY: Gaddafi Stadium seats 60,000
• SEATS FOR FOREIGNERS: 1,200
• GETTING THERE: It’s the most accessible. Take the train or bus across Attari. Or walk across Wagah (if the governments allow it). Flights are also available.
• HOTELS: Splurge on the hotel here; the cheaper ones are notorious. Faletti’s is the best option if you can afford it. More reasonable choices: Pearl Continental, Orient Hotel, Shah Taj.
• DO: Marvel at the similarities with Amritsar, make a trip to Food Alley, go on the three-and-half-hour city tour, visit Lahore Fort, Jahangir’s mausoleum. And catch a Lollywood movie.
• DON’T: Not too many warnings here, but do be wary of cons and cheats

Multan Punjab
• MATCH: Test: March 28-April 1
• STADIUM CAPACITY: Multan Cricket Stadium seats 25,000. It’s supposed to be the best in the country.
• SEATS FOR FOREIGNERS: 5,000
• GETTING THERE: Not directly accessible from India. Hop across to Lahore and then travel overland to Multan.
• HOTELS: Holiday Inn, Sindbad
• DO: Visit the Qasim Bagh fort and the mausoleum of Sheikh Rukn-i-Alam, just inside the fort premises. And pick up camel leather products to raise the envy meter back home.
• DON’T: Forget to take precautions against the heat and dust.

Karachi Sindh
• MATCH: ODI: March 13
• STADIUM CAPACITY: National Stadium seats 33,761
• TICKETS FOR FOREIGNERS: 6,750
• GETTING THERE: PIA flies to Karachi from Mumbai.
• HOTELS: Karachi offers accommodation in all ranges, all located mostly at a distance from the stadium. Some of the better options: Metropole (doubles from PKR 500), Mehran (doubles from around PKR 1000), Holiday Inn, Sheraton ($250), Pearl Continental (around PKR 4,000-6,000; there’s one in every city except Multan and the rates are similar), Marriott (PKR 4000).
• DO: The dekko of the Qaid-e-Azam mausoleum (a monument to Jinnah), Clifton (home to the rich and infamous), Saddar Bazaar for trinkets to take away
• DON’T: Venture into the interiors of Sindh, not even to the beautifully preserved Mohenjodaro.
• Train travel to Rawalpindi takes up more than a day. The second ODI is a day/nighter, which means if you take the early morning train out of Karachi, you should be able to catch the first ball.

Pakbacker’s guide
• Prices are approximate. There’s every chance hotel rates will be hiked round the board for the rush.
• Vegetariansmay have to survive on dal and roti if on a shoestring budget.
• Respect local customs. Don’t consume liquor in public. Dress conservatively. Women should stay away from trousers, except possibly in Lahore.
• Don’t stay out too late at night, or move out on your own.
• Keep to yourself, your own group. Don’t provoke emotions over cricket or other sensitive issues.

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To Lahore, for the great game

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