The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has finally addressed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and its chairman Ehsan Mani’s concerns about the visas for the Pakistan national team, media, and fans for the forthcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2021 to be held in October-November in India.
The relations between India and Pakistan have not been that good at all for a number of years and it has been hugely impacting the cricketing ties between the two countries, as the arch-rivals have not played a full-bilateral series since 2007, and only meet in ICC tournaments and Asia Cup.
Given the current situation between India and Pakistan off the field, PCB chairman Mani had last month asked for written assurances from the BCCI over the security and the visas for its team, fans, and journalists to enter the country for the forthcoming T20 World Cup later this year.
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Later, the BCCI officials slammed PCB over their demand and Mani’s immature remarks about the visa guarantees. Well now, it is being said that the Indian Cricket Board has assured the ICC and PCB that their touring party would not face any problem in entering India for the T20 World Cup 2021 after their counterparts had recently taken up the matter with the world’s governing body.
According to a report in Cricbuzz, the BCCI has written to the International Cricket Council (ICC) assuring them of no complications for the Pakistan contingent's passage into India for the tournament in October-November. Specifically, it has cited a letter written by the Government of India to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) assuring the Olympic body that no team will be denied entry into India for any multilateral sporting competition.
A source close to the development revealed, “The BCCI has referred Indian government's communication to the IOC in its letter to the ICC. Even the Indian Olympic Committee (IOC) has been kept in the loop.”
Recently, Mani had raised concerns over Indian visas and warned if the BCCI failed to provide assurances by March 31, then the T20 World Cup should be shifted to the UAE from India.
Mani had said, “I have informed the (ICC) board that the BCCI was supposed to give us visa assurances by 31st December, but that didn't happen because their President, Sourav Ganguly was twice hospitalized. But I have now again taken up this matter with the ICC and am in touch with them. The ICC has told us that we will get our written confirmation by the end of next month (March).”
Noteworthy, the matter will now be discussed at the International Cricket Council executive board meeting to be held on March 31 and April 1, 2021.
(With Cricbuzz Inputs)
