New Delhi: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has assured a quick visa issuance for the Indian fans wanting to travel to Pakistan for next year’s Champions Trophy. Naqvi, who is also the Federal Interior Minister, on Friday made the assurances in a meeting with a group of Sikh pilgrims from the United States.
The PCB chairman is in the hope to receive a positive response from the Indian fans to to travel to Pakistan for the big ICC event. The Champions Trophy 2025 is scheduled to be held in Pakistan in the months of February and March and with India’s reluctance to travel to the neighbouring country due to political issues, things are still unclear.
BCCI needs government’s permission
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) would require a permission from the Indian government for travelling to Pakistan for the massive event in 2025. Since the 2008 Mumbai terror attack, Indian team has not travelled to Pakistan and there has been no Test series between the two neighbouring teams since 2007. Both India and Pakistan have met at big events only like the ODI World Cup, the T20 World Cup and the Asia Cup.
“We will be keeping a special quota of tickets for Indian fans and we will try to make the visa issuance policy brisk,” the PCB chief was quoted as saying by a newspaper. He also said that the cricket board of Pakistan would like to see Indian fans visit the country and watch the Indian and Pakistan match in Lahore. Pakistan is scheduled to host the ICC mega event but until now, the apex cricket body has still not released the tournament schedule as they wait on confirmation if the Indian government would allow its team to travel to Pakistan for the event.
(With PTI inputs)
