The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) expressed its disappointment once more on Monday regarding the ongoing delay in the issuance of Indian visas for Pakistani fans and journalists, despite nearly a week having passed since the start of the 2023 World Cup.
The prestigious cricket tournament commenced on October 5, but Indian authorities have not yet issued visas to Pakistanis who wish to attend the World Cup, leaving them in a state of uncertainty.
In an official statement, the PCB disclosed that Zaka Ashraf, Chairman of the PCB Management Committee, engaged with Pakistan's Foreign Secretary, Syrus Sajjad Qazi, to express deep concern and alarm regarding the delay in granting visas to fans and journalists from Pakistan who intend to cover the World Cup in India.
The PCB further noted that Ashraf requested the Foreign Secretary to address this issue by liaising with India's Home Ministry through the Pakistan High Commission Office in New Delhi.
According to ICC regulations, the host country is obligated to issue visas to fans and journalists covering the event. However, India has not responded to Pakistan's appeals. The statement conveyed the board's extreme disappointment that Pakistani journalists and fans are still uncertain about obtaining Indian visas to cover Pakistan's matches in the ICC World Cup 2023.
Simultaneously, the PCB once again reminded both the ICC and BCCI of their respective responsibilities and the terms and conditions outlined in the host agreement, ensuring visas for fans and journalists from participating teams.
The PCB also highlighted its serious concern about the security threats reported in the Indian media and urged the government to assess the security of the Pakistani squad in India. Ashraf, in his discussion with the Foreign Secretary, underscored the paramount importance of the well-being and safety of the Pakistan squad.
In a recent interview, the caretaker Prime Minister, Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, stressed the importance of keeping politics separate from sports. He emphasized that if the World Cup had been held in Pakistan, they would have issued visas to Indians, emphasizing that sports should remain free from political influences.