Top security for Pakistan team during India tour: High Commissioner
Sharat Sabharwal meets PCB chairman, discusses security measures to be taken during IPL.
LAHORE:
Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Sharat Sabharwal assured the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday that its team will be provided complete security if it tours India to participate in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Sabharwal, in a meeting with PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf, discussed security measures which will be taken during the upcoming series and said that the series will improve cricket relations between the two countries.
Sabharwal expressed optimism that maximum number of Pakistani fans will be issued visas to visit India to watch the matches. He refused to give a specific number of visas to be issued to the cricket fans but gave firm assurance that maximum number of spectators will be accommodated.
“We are looking into this matter and we will decide this issue on priority basis,” he said.
He praised the efforts of PCB and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for re-starting cricket ties.
The Indian High Commissioner, while answering a question, said that he would take up the matter of granting visas to the Pakistani spectators who will be visiting India to watch the World Cup Kabaddi tournament next month.
Ashraf thanked the Indian High Commissioner for visiting the PCB headquarters and to discuss various aspects of the coming Pak-India series.
“I think the signals from Indian side are very positive as far as issue of giving visas to the Pakistani spectators is concerned,” Ashraf said. He added, “I am confident that this issue will be finalised soon and a good number of Pakistanis will be crossing the border to watch the series.”
The improving ties between the Pakistan and India cricket boards, which resulted in the confirmation of a short series between the archrivals in December, also made the possibility of Pakistan players featuring in the IPL ‘higher than ever’. The last time Pakistan cricketers took part in the IPL was in 2008.
Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Sharat Sabharwal assured the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday that its team will be provided complete security if it tours India to participate in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Sabharwal, in a meeting with PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf, discussed security measures which will be taken during the upcoming series and said that the series will improve cricket relations between the two countries.
Sabharwal expressed optimism that maximum number of Pakistani fans will be issued visas to visit India to watch the matches. He refused to give a specific number of visas to be issued to the cricket fans but gave firm assurance that maximum number of spectators will be accommodated.
“We are looking into this matter and we will decide this issue on priority basis,” he said.
He praised the efforts of PCB and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for re-starting cricket ties.
The Indian High Commissioner, while answering a question, said that he would take up the matter of granting visas to the Pakistani spectators who will be visiting India to watch the World Cup Kabaddi tournament next month.
Ashraf thanked the Indian High Commissioner for visiting the PCB headquarters and to discuss various aspects of the coming Pak-India series.
“I think the signals from Indian side are very positive as far as issue of giving visas to the Pakistani spectators is concerned,” Ashraf said. He added, “I am confident that this issue will be finalised soon and a good number of Pakistanis will be crossing the border to watch the series.”
The improving ties between the Pakistan and India cricket boards, which resulted in the confirmation of a short series between the archrivals in December, also made the possibility of Pakistan players featuring in the IPL ‘higher than ever’. The last time Pakistan cricketers took part in the IPL was in 2008.