PCB wants ICC to take up Indian visa issue ahead of T20 World Cup

Pakistan Cricket Board CEO Wasim Khan on Monday said the cricket body wants the International Cricket Council to assure visas for its players and officials which would allow them to participate in next year's T20 World Cup, scheduled to be hosted by India in October.

Wasim Khan said they are hoping to hear back from the ICC by December 2020-January 2021, saying the global cricket body needs to take up the issue with the Board of Control for Cricket in India and the Indian government, in case, Pakistan players and support staff don't get their Indian visas on time.

India and Pakistan have not played bilateral cricket since January 2013 wherein Pakistan visited their neighbours wherein they played 2 T20Is and 3 ODIs. The two teams have not met in a bilateral Test series since the 2007-08 season. Efforts to hold bilateral series in the past have not yielded the desired results, depriving fans of one of the greatest rivalries in the sport.

However, the two teams have been meeting in major events, including the World Cups and Asia Cup tournaments.

On the other hand, Pakistan athletes travelling to India for major tournaments has been an issue with the row over Pakistan shooters not getting visas on time for the ISSF World Cup in New Delhi last year kicking up a storm.

"This is an ICC matter. We have discussed our concerns. There is a 'Host Agreement' that states very clearly that host nation (India in this case) will have to provide visas and accommodation for teams that are due to participate in T20 World Cup and Pakistan is one of them," Khan told



PTI.

"We have sought assurances from the ICC that our players will receive visas and ICC is now taking this up with the BCCI because that directive and confirmation will clearly need to come from their government."

Shedding light on fixing a deadline for ICC's response, Khan said: "We have asked for a deadline till December-January, which we believe is the right thing. We expect a response from the ICC on whether our players and officials will receive visas to participate in the tournament.

"If it (visas) isn't (there), then like any nation would expect, we would also expect ICC to take that up directly with India and the Indian government through the BCCI to resolve this matter."

Meanwhile, Wasim Khan also ruled out chances of bilateral series between India and Pakistan in the near future, saying the two boards can look at the next FTP from 2023-31 to schedule bilateral series, provided the bilateral ties between the two countries improve in the meantime.

"I think we have to be realistic about India and Pakistan bilateral series... BCCI needs to get permission before they can play Pakistan in any bilateral series, home, away or even on neutral venues," Khan said.

"I think on both sides, there is plenty of cricket to be played against other countries, but sadly for fans and players in both countries, it does not look like that India and Pakistan will be playing bilateral series in foreseeable future.

"So there is no current planning that we can factor into the next FTP (2023-31) unless circumstances and viewpoint changes of the Indian government."