Pakistan tour gets Indian government’s go-ahead: BCCI

Bilateral series moves closer to reality after ministry’s approval.

KARACHI:

Pakistan appear set to tour their neighbours in December as the India’s home ministry gave a green signal for the short-limited overs series between the traditional rivals, following a meeting between senior officials of the country’s cricket board and the ministry. 

According to details, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) representatives including chief administrative officer Ratnakar Shetty, Indian Premier League chairman Rajiv Shukla and chief executive Sundar Raman met the Union Home Secretary RK Singh yesterday when the go-ahead was conveyed to the India board.

The planned short series, which includes three One-Day Internationals and a couple of Twenty20s, has been dubbed as crucial for the revival of bilateral relations between the two countries. The neighbouring sides have not contested a bilateral series since 2007 due to strained relations in the aftermaths of the Mumbai attacks.

Both teams have been reduced to facing each other in multi-nation ODI and Twenty20 tournaments.

However, the resumption moved a step closer to reality after the government clearance. Shukla said the BCCI delegation discussed several issues, pertaining to the series, with the home secretary.

“We have discussed all security aspects — the tour is on,” Shukla said in New Delhi following the meeting.

The BCCI initiated the talks of revival in July and invited the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to send a team for a short series in December, between the Test and ODI legs of the England tour of India when the tourists take a Christmas break. The PCB termed it an ‘ice-breaking’ development and welcomed the invitation.

According to the tentative schedule, Pakistan will arrive in India on December 22 with the venues expected to be Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata (ODIs), Ahmedabad and Bangalore (Twenty20s). However, the detailed schedule is yet to be announced.

Meanwhile, a PCB official said the board was yet to be conveyed by their counterpart about the development.

“We are looking forward to the progress,” the PCB official told The Express Tribune. “But right now we are awaiting an official communiqué from the BCCI.”

Visas relaxation for fans likely

Meanwhile, Pakistan fans, gearing up to catch live action between the rivals, are likely to be facilitated in the visa process.

According to a BCCI official, the home ministry also gave clearance to Pakistani spectators.

“A good number of fans from Pakistan will be given visas for the series,” said the BCCI official.

He added that several top Pakistani dignitaries were also expected to visit India to watch the cricket matches.

PCB Chairman Zaka Ashraf last month requested the Indian External Affairs Minister SM Krishna to facilitate the visa process during his visit to Islamabad.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 31^st, 2012.