Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board Zaka Ashraf calls on SM Krishna, visiting Foreign Minister of India today at Islamabad.
The Indian High Commissioner, Sharat Sabharwal was also present in the meeting. Pakistan’s cricket chief urged the visiting Indian Foreign Minister to ensure fans would get visas so they can see the first series between the two countries in five years. The meeting was held in a very cordial atmosphere.
Ch. Zaka Ashraf thanked the visiting Minister for his and Indian government’s role in making the Pak-India cricket series a reality. Chairman PCB, at this occasion, also acknowledged the efforts made by President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in this reagard. India has invited Pakistan to play three one-day internationals and two Twenty20 games in December-January.
The rivals have not held a series since 2007, after cricket ties were snapped following the 2008 attacks on Mumbai. Chairman PCB requested Krishna for the support of Indian government to facilitate in the issuance of Indian visas for the Pakistani fans wanting to witnesses Pakistan-India series schedule to be played in India in December this year.
Foreign Minister assured full support in this matter and directed the high commissioner to extend the maximum cooperation. A meeting will be held later this month between the Indian High Commissioner in Pakistan and the PCB to ensure that fans get all facilitation and help in their visa process in order to enable them to travel to India to follow Team Pakistan.
Chairman PCB Ch. Zaka Ashraf in a statement from Islamabad said, “A cricket series between Pakistan and India is very important for the fans on both sides of the border. These matches are always considered to be historic and everyone wants to be part of that.
So it is extremely important that they are facilitated which any way possible by the governments and the cricket boards of both the countries.
