PCB chairman Ehsan Mani's remarks on visa assurance for Pakistani players, media and fans for the T20 World Cup 2021 to be held in India between October-November haven’t gone down well with the BCCI.
Speaking to ANI, a BCCI official called the comments 'immature' and also mentioned that the Indian government has already made its policy clear when it comes to handing visas to players for international sporting events.
"It was surprising to read Ehsan Mani's comments, especially in the background of the wonderful working relationship that he shares with Sourav Ganguly (BCCI President) at the ICC. He is a gentleman and had in fact been a guide for Sourav during the pandemic along with Shashank (Manohar). One can't help but think that it is very immature of Mani to give a statement like this," the official said.
"It is almost as if he is either desperately looking for a way out of his team playing in the tournament or he is grandstanding for some constituency back home. If they want to make it a political issue, it is of course their own wish. They do know that a cricket board of a country has absolutely no locus standi to give any assurance on an issue, which is not in their purview and is firmly in the decision-making sphere of the government," he added.
"What's the next logical step? Will the ICC play a UN kind of role? Will Pakistan's participation in tournaments depend upon an assurance that no acts of terror would originate on their soil?" the official enquired.
"Moreover, the government has already made their position crystal clear on the issue of visas and an informed person would be aware of it. Mani should be making efforts to try and normalise cricket relations between the two countries rather than making efforts to widen the gulf between them," he asserted.
Mani on Sunday (February 28) revealed that the PCB has written a letter to International Cricket Council (ICC), asking the parent body about the issuance of visas from India for the marquee event.
"India is set to host T20 World Cup in October-November this year. I have told the board that we want written confirmation from India that our fans, journalists, and players will get visas. I have a meeting with ICC and I will raise this point once again," said Mani.
He also added if India fails to give assurance then the T20 World Cup needs to be moved somewhere else.
The issue of visas was laid to rest last year itself when the Indian government had written to the Presidents of the IOA (Indian Olympic Association) and the IOC (International Olympic Committee).
Subsequently, Sports Secretary Radhe Shyam Julaniya, in his letter on June 18, 2019, clearly cited that the athletes’ country of origin would not be an obstacle for them to get visas.
(With ANI inputs)
