The Indian government is to issue a record 3,000 visas to Pakistani cricket fans attending a series of limited over matches beginning next month, an official in the interior ministry told AFP Thursday. “We will happily host 3,000 Pakistani cricket lovers for the matches. This is the first time that we have decided to issue so many visas in one go,” the source were quoted by a news agencies on condition of anonymity. India is to host Pakistan for two T20 internationals and three 50 over matches from December 25, beginning in Bangalore. Matches will also be held in Ahmedabad, Chennai, Kolkata and New Delhi which will host the last game on January 6.
“One thousand Pakistanis will be able to watch the Delhi match and 500 will be allowed to attend each of the other games,” said the official. “The BCCI (Indian cricket board) will be given all the necessary instructions to speed up the visa process.” Another interior ministry official said the Pakistani visitors would have to report to a designated police station immediately after their entry into India. “Pakistani fans cannot crossover on foot in (the northern state of) Punjab. They can either choose to fly down or board the border train,” the official said. As well as the Thar Express railway link between the two countries, Pakistan International Airlines flies from Lahore and Karachi to New Delhi and Mumbai. The rivals have not played a series since Pakistan’s tour of India in 2007, after cricket ties were broken following the 2008 attacks in Mumbai by militants from Pakistan.
