Pakistani cricketers snubbed by English clubs

Visa delays forcing officials to look at alternate players.

LAHORE: The ripple effect following the spot-fixing scandal is being felt by Pakistan’s first-class cricketers with offers from foreign clubs decreasing by the day, according to a research done by The Express Tribune.

While a bunch of local cricketers opted for greener pastures during Pakistan’s off-season, visa delays remain the biggest reason behind the fall in numbers, especially of players wishing to pursue club cricket in England.

“I’ve been playing league cricket in Yorkshire for the last five years but now I’m struggling to find any club,” said Shoaib Khan, Pakistan’s highest run-scorer in the 2008 domestic season.

“There are various reasons but after the fixing allegations, the visa-processing period, particularly for Pakistani players, has been tightened. According to my London-based agent, Pakistani players are not in so much demand anymore due to the increased paperwork.

“English season starts right after our season ends and most of us go there in order to maintain our fitness levels and earn some extra money. But now we’re sitting idle even after our season ends.”

Ironically, Pakistan players were termed “best professionals” prior to the allegations but are now overlooked for the same reasons.

“Due to the strict visa policy and the delay in the visa process for Pakistani players, the clubs are forced to pick from other parts of Asia instead,” said Amir Sajjad, the top run-getter in the last season.

“They now don’t wait for us but sign players from Bangladesh and India instead.”

A renowned UK-based cricket agent also confirmed that visa issues have forced the clubs to give up signing Pakistani players.

“I think Pakistani players have excellent value,” James Hines, a renowned agent in UK, told The Express Tribune. “As a cricket agent in the UK, I have worked hard to place Pakistani players here in the UK but without success now. Clubs are looking to sign Australians, Kiwis or South Africans because visas are processed quicker.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 3^rd, 2011.