After PCB Seeks 'Visa Assurance' From BCCI, Indian Board Asks For 'No Terror Attack' Assurance

The BCCI has hit back at Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) over the ‘visa assurance’ comments from the latter’s CEO Wasim Khan. On Thursday, Khan said that the board has asked for written assurance from the ICC that there will not be any visa related issues from the Indian government when the team comes to play the 2021 T20 World Cup and the 2023 World Cup in India.

The bilateral relation between the two countries is at an all-time low at the moment due to Pakistan’s failure to stop cross-border terrorism. Consequently, the BCCI has also suspended all the cricketing ties with Pakistan.The arch-rivals have not played a full bilateral Test series since 2007 when Pakistan visited India for three Tests and five One-Day Internationals.

They played a short series of three ODIs and two T20s in India in December 2012, but otherwise, both have faced each other only in the ICC events or the Asia Cup. And given the current relation between the two nations, the PCB has asked the governing body of the game to get the assurance from the BCCI in written. In February last year, two Pakistanis were denied visas to compete in New Delhi in a shooting event.

However, a BCCI official has hit back at PCB’s claims. Speaking to IANS, the 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. The official also asked for no terror attack guarantee from the PCB in written as he hit back at the Pakistani board.

“Can the PCB give an assurance in writing that the Pakistan government would ensure that no illegal incursions into India takes 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?,” said the BCCI official.

“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 realises 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 added.

Earlier, Khan in an interview on the YouTube Channel ‘Cricket Baaz’ said that the PCB has already talked to ICC over the visa matter for the next two ICC tournaments in India.

“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,” he said.

He further pointed that many Pakistan squads for different sports were not given clearance by the Indian government to play in India in recent times.

“That is why we have asked for the advance assurances. But eventually it is an ICC event and it is their responsibility to ensure we as a full member and signatory of the participants agreement go and play in these ICC events,” he said.

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