ISLAMABAD – Former captain and Olympian hockey goalkeeper Mansoor Ahmed’sheart ailment can be treated in Pakistan and there is no need for him totravel to India for a heart transplant, the authorities in Karachi haveinformed him.

Two days back, Mansoor made a passionate appeal to the Indian government togrant him a visa on humanitarian grounds and allow him to travel to Indiafor a heart transplant.

Many in the sporting community and on the social media were surprised bythe appeal made by the celebrated goalkeeper who has been suffering from aheart condition since last three years.

Many felt that Pakistan had some of the best heart surgeons and it wasunwise of Mansoor to ask the Indian government to issue him a visa to go toIndia at a time when relations between the two countries was at its lowestebb.

Surgeon Pervez Chaudhary, a senior professor at the National Institute ofCardiovascular Diseases in Karachi, made it clear that all facilities wereavailable in the institute to treat Mansoor.

“He has been shifted to the NCI and we will soon operate on him and inserta left ventricular assist device (LVAD) which is a mechanical pump that isimplanted inside a person’s chest to help a weakened heart pump blood. Wewill also carry out the necessary repair so that he can lead a normallife,” the surgeon said.

Mansoor, who became a household name in 1994 after heroic saves in penaltystroke shootouts against Germany and Holland in the Champions Trophy andWorld Cup, has also been assured by Pakistan’s former cricketcaptain Shahid Afridi who now runs a foundation, that all his medicalexpenses will be taken care of.