With just five days to go for the India vs Pakistan blockbuster match, there is no sign of visas for Pakistani fans and journalists. A miffed Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has sought intervention from Pakistan Foreign Secretary Syrus Sajjad Qazi. PCB wants Qazi to speak to Indian Home Ministry through embassy in Delhi to issue visas at the earliest ahead of IND vs PAK World Cup clash.
“PCB is extremely disappointed to see that journalists from Pakistan and fans are still facing uncertainty about obtaining an Indian visa to cover Pakistan games in ICC World Cup 2023.
“In the meantime, PCB has again reminded ICC and BCCI of their respective obligations and terms and conditions stipulated in the Host agreement to guarantee visas for fans and journalists of participating teams,” PCB said in a statement.
Why is it taking so long?
Unlike other countries, visas for Pakistani citizens in India and vice versa are not that easy. As around 60 journalists and hundreds of fans wait to travel to India for India vs Pakistan clash, all of the applicants will be under close scrutiny. All the applications will be thoroughly vetted by the home, external affairs and sports ministries. The reason is that Pakistan is on India’s prior reference category (PRC) list.
Pakistan have already played the Netherlands without any supporters. The sole Pakistani supporter to get a visa is Chacha Bashir, who is a resident of Chicago, USA. Waqar Younis and Zainab Abbas — who are on ICC’s commentary panel, also received visas. However, Abbas, who is a sports presenter for Star Sports, has left the country after an Indian advocate filed an FIR against her for derogatory remarks against Hindus back in 2018.
ICC has directed the BCCI to sort out the visa issue with Indian home and foreign ministry at the earliest ahead of India vs Pakistan clash.
“The issuance of visas is an obligation of our host (BCCI). And they are working diligently on it with our full support. Every possible effort is being made to resolve this issue,” an ICC spokesperson to PTI.
In a recent interview, Pakistan’s caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar also reiterated to keep politics away from sports and issue visas at the earliest.
“We would have issued visas to Indians if the World Cup was held in Pakistan. Sports should be kept aloof from politics,” Kakar said.
All eyes on India vs Pakistan
Meanwhile, after Pakistan face Sri Lanka and India take on Afghanistan on Tuesday and Wednesday, heads will turn to Ahmedabad. The big India vs Pakistan clash will take place at the world’s largest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad. The capital city of Gujarat and the vicinity of Narendra Modi Stadium are already in high security alert.
Pakistan will reach Ahmedabad on Wednesday ahead of the India vs Pakistan World Cup clash on October 14.
India Cricket Team will arrive in Ahmedabad on Thursday after playing Afghanistan in Delhi on Wednesday.
