“Can PCB give a no terror-attack guarantee,” BCCI official hits back at Wasim Khan’s ‘visa assurance’ demand

PCB CEO Wasim Khan had pointed out that Pakistani sportspersons were not given visas by India.

Recently Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief Executive Wasim Khan had stated that the board had asked for a written assurance from the ICC that there won’t be any visa problems from the Indian government’s side when Pakistan travels to the country for the 2021 T20 World Cup and the 2023 World Cup.

Now a BCCI official, who wants to remain anonymous has hit back at PCB’s ridiculous demand saying PCB should guarantee that there would be no hostility at the border before asking for visa-related assurance from the Indian board.

Speaking to IANS, a BCCI official said that while the ICC rules clearly state that there should be no governmental interference in the running of the game, the same also applies for cricket boards and they shouldn't interfere in the running of the government.

"Can the PCB give assurance in writing that the Pakistan government would ensure that no illegal incursions into India take place from the Pakistani side or that there's no violation of the cease-fire or that no act of terror takes place on Indian soil originating in Pakistan or that no repeat of Pulwama type incident takes place?” the official said.

BCCI differs with PCB over September-October window for Asia Cup

"The ICC mandates that there should be no interference of governments in the administration of the game and the corollary would be that a sports board doesn't attempt to interfere with how a government functions. It's time the PCB realizes that and stops acting like an agent for an individual in the ICC who is known to work against the interest of India. All I would say is that India is a wonderful country and acts in the most balanced way," the official pointed.

"We are also looking at the fact that the ICC World Cups are to be hosted in India in 2021 and 2023 and we have already asked the ICC to give us written assurances from BCCI that we will not face any problems getting visas and clearance to play in India,” Wasim Khan had said in an interview on the YouTube Channel 'Cricket Baaz'.

He said that Pakistan squad from other sports had not been given clearance by the Indian government, albeit, the Indian government had already solved the issue with regards to granting visas to athletes from different countries in case of multi-nation sporting events in June 2019.

(IANS inputs)