‘PCB seeks visa guarantees from ICC’

KARACHI: Pakistan’s cricket authorities are seeking visa guarantees from the International Cricket Council (ICC) for two major world cricket events to be held in India.

Following the Pulwama attack, the Indians have attempted to isolate Pakistan in international cricket by demanding the ouster of the green shirts from this summer’s World Cup in England.

In a tit for tat action, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has raised the issue of visas, asking the ICC to make sure that Pakistani players get them when travelling to India for two major events – the ICC T20 World Cup in 2021 and the ICC World Cup in 2023.

According to reports, Ehsan Mani, the PCB chairman, has raised the issue with the ICC. However, reports have suggested that the ICC has responded by saying that it was too early to tackle this issue.

Bilateral cricketing ties between the two countries have remained suspended and the two play only in multilateral events.

The two Asian powerhouses last played a bilateral series in 2012-13 when the Pakistan visited India for two T20Is and three ODIs. The T20Is ended in a draw, however, Pakistan won the ODI 2-1.

The request by PCB comes days after two Pakistani shooters were refused visas by India for the International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF) Shooting World Cup event which was held in Delhi.

The ISSF decided to cancel all Olympic qualification quotas from the competition but relented after India’s Sports Ministry and Indian Olympic Association made requests.

The International Olympic Committee, however, took in writing that no participant would be denied visa by India at any international sporting event. —with inputs from agencies