The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) should have pressed for easy issuance of visas for fans before confirming its tour of India, according to former International Cricket Council (ICC) president Ehsan Mani.
Despite repeated requests by the PCB of a relaxation of the visa policy, the Indian home ministry, citing security apprehensions, refused to budge from its stance. It even made it mandatory for applicants to name a local sponsor in order for the visa to be issued.
“Ensuring a relaxation in the visa policy should have been cleared in advance,” Mani told The Express Tribune. “The PCB should’ve taken a surety before accepting India’s invitation. Now the fans look set to face difficulties. The PCB was very reactive and agreed all terms and now India is not accommodating Pakistan. The Indian board has its financial interests and will earn millions while our board will get nothing.”
Former greats echo Mani’s views
Meanwhile, former Test cricketers have rued the policy of getting local sponsor to obtain an Indian visa for the series.
Former captain Inzamamul Haq said some other way could have been found to ensure the fans will return after the series.
“Visas can be restricted to venues only,” Inzamam said in an interview. “Not every cricket fan can get a local sponsor and many enthusiasts will be deprived of this highly-anticipated series.”
Another former captain Moin Khan termed the policy as ‘disappointing’.
“The revival of cricket ties is a positive sign but there is a need to relax rules for the fans,” said Moin.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 14th, 2012.
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@Waqas: If you are not desperate to visit India, then don't beg for visas.
You cannot expect a sovereign nation to put its security in jeopardy just because bunch of fans wants to watch a game.
@Waqas
It seems to me that Pakistanis who are criticizing India for making visa issuance a strict affair should first ask themselves why has this been done. India, as a sovereign nation with legitimate right (and duty) to protect its people and territory, is obligated to exercise the maximum precaution in keeping out undesirable elements. There are many thousand Pakistanis (they are not just 22, as some official erroneously points out because many do not even care to register and just go underground, hoping to never be caught) who are still hiding in India although the purpose and duration of their visits have long lapsed. If the Pakistanis are so concerned about visiting India -- and there is criticism by this guy Ehsan Mani, a former ICC president, then Pakistan does not have to send a cricket team to India. You can hardly blame Indians for being touchy about visiting Pakistanis (be it politicians, militarymen, actors, crickets and, worst of all, mullahs) on Indian soil. But the problem of keeping away Pakistanis out of its sovereign territory is not just a problem in India. You have to just see the long lines of applicants outside foreign embassies/consulates in your country to get the first impression that you are not wanted anywhere in the world, not just in India. There is something fundamentally wrong with you guys: you blame the entire world for all your misery which has been self inflicted, yet you do not want to change or take steps to redress the cause of such problems. You should get rid of your violent mindset that is the root cause of your problems: violence can never be an ersatz for progressive thinking. Can you blame India -- or the world -- if they view every Pakistani as a security threat, as a potential terrorist? The PCB knows that very well and it has no jurisdiction over India's visa-issuing authority. As for those who say that they will NEVER want to visit India, well the choice is yours. We cannot - and will not -- ask you to come to India. The grapes are, after all, very sour.
This policy has been applied after terrorist Headly disclosed that fact that spies came in disguise . Now some 12 and might be many more enjoying Indian hospitality with their brothers.This time we will ensure that no Indian sponsors for Paki players . If it happens , we will use RTI policy to hunt down those Indian sponsors.
@Waqas
@Nitish@Raj: We also are not desperate to go india nither india is so good country that fans might slip in it. We just want see our stars performing oh sorry destroying your team.
Waqas neither we are interested in showcasing our country to anyone.We are just concerned about the security of our citizens.Given that the pakistani government is so irresponsible in dealing with perpretators of terrorist attack we won't want potentially dangerous pakistani fans into india.
@Waqas: hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
@Hindu Pakistani: If you r a hindu from pakistan,then you should be well aware that new visa policy allows hindu from pakistan to be eligible for long term visa.Only What you have to do is to apply properly with appropriate visa fees..rest other than hindu ,harsh visa policy is justified .......Please allow us to judge who is good and who is bad......
@Hindu Pakistani: Spoken like a true muslim....
Its bad that people slip in any foreign country but the rules should be made for people not against them. We have relatives and friends on both sides of the border. If the long term multiple visas were granted by both countries no one would slip or use cricket tour visa to meet relatives etc. @Raj and @Bala please try to understand all pakistanis are not terrorists and not all terrorists are pakistanis (or muslim). Pleasse watch ramchand pakistani. We are all humans and lets live together in peace regardless of race, religion, caste or creed. Regards.
hey Pakistanis, please follow the rules of the land, you are visiting. Is that too much to ask?
@Waqas - If your teams plays well, then congrats to them. But don't try to justify those individuals who have broken the law in a foreign country. Such incidents create an environment of distrust and destroys whatever goodwill the authorities have created.
Is cricket more important than security of the state and people- especially when we know that - after any unfortunate incident, India will be blamed for not being careful enough; and - State of Pakistan will be helpless in taking action against the preparators of the unfortunate incident. Why should India shoot themselves in the foot? If it does not suit Pakistanis, let the tour be cancelled. Mr Ehsan Mani should realise the fact that Indian cricket board does not need money so bad.
i got some indian friends and they happy to sponsor me !!! still i got a bad feeling that my visa will be rejected on my pakistani passport however i'll travel on my aussie passport !!!
Its a shame that none of leading personalities have proposed for a investigation to why some of the Pakistanis have not returned home. You guys never introspect and always get surprised by others reactions. Sometimes please try to analyze why others are behaving like this with you.
I don't think it is PCBs duty to arrange for the visa. If PCB presses for Visas then it should also be hold responsible for tracking the fans and ensuring that they return to home after the series.
Have some dignity?Leave us leave alone please.We dont want you in india.