Canada’s Berry Cricket Club (BCC), comprising national players, has pulled out of the second edition of Pakistan Champions League (PCL) after three of its players, of Indian background, were denied visas by the Pakistan authorities.
The 32-team event, scheduled to launch on May 21 in Karachi, has a number of foreign teams taking part, thus increasing its popularity.
“BCC agreed to take part but three of their Indian players failed to get visas which means they won’t be coming here,” a member of the organising committee told The Express Tribune.
“MNA Syed Asif Hasnain contacted the higher authorities in Islamabad but to no avail.”
The organising committee then turned towards the US association and even agreed to pay half their air-fare but not getting a favourable response, Hong Kong’s national side was drafted in. Kuwait, Qatar, Dammam, Phoenix Medicine of the UAE, Riyadh Cricket Association of Saudi Arabia, and Afghanistan Youth Cricket Club will be taking part in the event.
Meanwhile, Asif and Rashid Latif were involved in a meeting with the administrator and commissioner of Karachi along with other top officials on security arrangements during the event.
“We will provide fool-proof security from the hotels to the grounds and they will be in close vicinity of their hotels. Our aim is build a soft image of Pakistan so that sporting activities can resume. We want to tell the world that we are a sports and peace loving nation.”
Meanwhile, Asif lamented the lack of interest from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
“The PCB Chairman Zaka Ashraf, and other top officials, are not answering our calls or replying to our messages and letters,” said Asif.
“We want to invite them for the event and want support. We are not their competitors and I request them to join hands for the sake of Pakistan.”
Published in The Express Tribune, May 12th, 2012.
COMMENTS (18)
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Good move by the Pakistani authorities - my only preference would have been if these players had been detained at the airport and interrogated for several hours before being sent back home. Hindustanis have nothing other than an insecure hatred for Pakistan, and frankly not even one of those 1.2 billion should have a right to set foot in the land they lost 65 years ago.
No great loss at all.
Hasan
excuse me but although i don't agree with these players being denied visas, i don't fully disagree either.....what have the indians being doing for the last three years?.....not letting our players take part in their league.....for those of you who say we "persist" in our mistakes, don't forget that the pot has NO right to call the pan black.....and we are the one's who have been inviting india to come play with us since a very long time.....now if you choose to deny civility....that is your loss....and your mistake
So why did the indian's deneid Azhar Mahmood's visa and didn't introduced him in first 8 games?????
These silly visa one-upmanships. Grow up both countries. This is just plain stupid to judge people by their national origin. They should've been viewed as Canadians and not Indians. Both sides indulge in this silly and arbitrary discrimination.
@Cautious: Wonderfully put
The violence in the cities has subsided a great deal but Al Qaeda can stil launch attacks and the safety of these cannot be guaranteed by anyone. It is very irresponsible to invite them here.
Let the players of every land come here we will welcome all
Canadian citizens with Pakistani background are often denied Indian Visas. This is first time Pakistanis have done it. They have also become rude and uncivilized like Indians.
PCL must be patronized by PCB as national league and fully support it to raise it up-to international level......players must be given visa regardless of their nationality.....let do not mingle politics with game
You never seem to pass over an opportunity to make a poor decision --- if nothing else your consistent.
PCB is jealous of everyone because they can't do what Rashid Latif and Dr Shah are doing
This doesn't make sense.
India did not send 10 terrorists to kill 170 in Karachi.
Even Canadians of Indian origin were not involved in any terrorist attacks in Pakistan.
this is not a good step but indian authorities has also denied vida for pakistan players
In'tl Cricket is already scarce in Pakistan. This action is like shooting self in the foot.
Is this really a popular event. Because the second paragraph reads: "The 32-team event, scheduled to launch on May 21 in Karachi, has a number of foreign teams taking part, thus increasing its popularity"
And then next para reads: "The organising committee then turned towards the US association and even agreed to pay half their air-fare but not getting a favourable response,..."
I believe players are still hesitate to take part because of the poor arrangements & lack of security.
In a way, it is good that Indians were denied visa. India now has a strong motivation to deny visas to cricketers from Pakistan or of Pakistani origin. The Pakistani haughty and - in the view of millions - stupid attitude is depriving millions of Pakistani cricket fans the opportunity to view international games and, in the process, also demonstrate that their country is safe for foreign cricketers. Alas, the game and, worst still, Pakistanis will be the losers if all the cricket-playing countries of the world boycotted Pakistan. You have no one but yourself to blame.
this is not a good news