If you are not a member of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) or not part of one of the 121 affiliated units and are wondering why you don't have a ticket for the India versus Pakistan ODI at the Eden Gardens, the reason is because only 3,500 tickets were up for sale for the average cricket fan, that too online.

The second of the three ODIs will be played on Thursday and unlike the India versus England game in October 2011, for which 20,000 tickets were on sale, the CAB has been forced to reduce the number to 3,500 this time.

In 2005, close to 90,000 spectators had watched the one-off India-Pakistan ODI here. But following the renovation of the Eden Gardens for the 2011 World Cup, the capacity was reduced to 66,000. The reduction in seats, and the fact that the clubs and members have collected their full quota of tickets, means a small number of tickets being sold online.

CAB joint-secretary Bablu Ganguly attempted to paint a picture of helplessness. "We have to reserve around 1,000 tickets for the police and defence personnel. We have 28,000 members, who are entitled to their match tickets. And then we have our 121 affiliated units," CAB joint-secretary Bablu Ganguly told The Indian Express.

"The state association has 37 first-division clubs under its wings and they have to be allotted 250 tickets each. The quota reserved for 57 second division clubs is 150 each. Then there are 18 district associations, universities and Office Sports Federation. We would have loved to sell more tickets to the public but couldn't. After distributing tickets to everyone, who have a claim on them, only 3,500 were left," Ganguly added.

CAB treasurer Biswarup Dey confirmed that all the tickets for members and affiliated units have been picked up.

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