An annoyed Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is taking up with its Indian counterpart the issue of visas for cricket fans from across the border for the upcoming one-dayers.
The PCB has complained of late printing and despatch of match tickets from India to Pakistan, resulting in a lot of problems for Pakistani fans who want to visit India for the six-match series beginning on April 2 at Kochi.
"The tickets are being printed late in India. For the Bangalore Test, one of our men had to come here from Pakistan to take the tickets home," PCB chief Shaharyar Khan said during an informal chat with reporters.
M Chinnaswamy Stadium where the third and final India-Pakistan cricket Test is being played.
The Indian Government had announced before the 50-day tour began February 28 that it would issue about 10,000 visas to fans who wanted to visit India for the three Tests and six One-Day Internationals.
But, said Khan, Pakistani fans experienced problems when the Indian High Commission in Islamabad insisted that visas would be issued only when actual match tickets would be shown.
This was against the understanding that the PCB had with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) before the start of the series, Khan maintained.
"Last year, when Indian fans toured Pakistan for the series, they were given visas only after showing the proof of the tickets. We want the same thing to happen for this series," said Khan.
{{/usCountry}}"Last year, when Indian fans toured Pakistan for the series, they were given visas only after showing the proof of the tickets. We want the same thing to happen for this series," said Khan.
{{/usCountry}}"I'm going to take up the matter with Indian board officials. I will also have talks with our high commission in Delhi about it," he said.