48 hours to go for IND vs PAK game and Pakistani journalists are yet to get their visas. While Indian embassy in Islamabad did reach out to 60-odd journalists willing to cover the India vs Pakistan ODI World Cup match in Ahmedabad, they have not yet received their visas.
Pakistan’s foreign office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that they are in touch with Indian authorities on the visa issue for fans and journalists. Even if the journalists get their visas today, with exorbitant hotel and flight prices, their travel plans will take a hit.
“We are in touch with the Indian authorities in this regard. We demand the issuance of visas soon,” Baloch was quoted by Geo News.
Indian High Commission contacts journos
As per PTI, some of the Pakistani journalists have submitted their passports with the Indian High Commission, assuring them of visa on time.
“Out of those journalists whose passports are already submitted with the Indian authorities some have been contacted by the high commission, assuring them visas would be issued on the basis of a list prepared by the authorities of the journalists,” a journalist told PTI.
“Clearly the visas are being issued under a set of rules decided by the Indian High Commission,” another journalist said.
Pakistan team has arrived in Ahmedabad for the mega India vs Pakistan clash. However, even as Babar Azam & Co hit the nets on Thursday, there won’t be any Pakistan scribes attending it.
ICC has arranged virtual press conferences for Pakistan team while every other team only appears for physical media sessions.
