Former Pakistani captain Javed Miandad says he found no difficulty in getting India visa. In 2005, it was reported in the press that any requests for a visa from him would be politely turned down. When Miandad’s son, Junaid, married to Mahrooq, the daughter of Dawood Ibrahim, who is still wanted in India in connection with the Mumbai bomb-blasts case of 1993, India’s Ministry of External Affairs had apparently taken a decision to deny former batsman an Indian visa. Speaking exclusively over his mobile on Tuesday, Miandad said: “Absolutely there was no problem in getting Indian visa. My visa and tickets are ready and I shall be in Delhi for the scheduled ODI match on 6th January.” Miandad could not remember when he last came to India. “I came to India for some Zee TV programme. I also had my visa ready for the World Cup semi-final match (India vs Pakistan) in Mohali, but owing to some last-minute change, I had to cancel my India trip. Hopefully, this may not happen now”, he added. Miandad is holding the second highest position in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and is directly reporting to chairman Zaka Ashraf. “For PCB work, I need to travel a lot and hence not getting time to come to India often”, he stressed. The PCB has been sending former greats to India to witness the bilateral matches, which have resumed after a gap of five years. Three out of Mohammad brothers will be in India for the remaining two ODIs. “I am granted the visa for Kolkata and Delhi”, Mushtaq Mohammad said from London. “I am leaving for Kolkata tonight”, he added. “Sadiq Mohammad is already there in Kolkata and Hanif Mohammad will join me in Delhi”, he added. All Mohammad brothers, Hanif, Wazir, Raees, Mushtaq and Sadiq Mohammad were born in India before partition. The World Cup winning captain Imran Khan has declined invitation citing political commitments. His cousin and former CEO, Majid Khan too has declined to come to India.
