LAHORE – The Pakistan Cricket Board has heaved a sigh of relief after the Indian High Commission cleared visas for the national squad to play across the border if they qualify for the knockout stages of the 2011 World Cup. Pakistan could be required to play in India if they qualify for the quarterfinals. The PCB had, in a preemptive move, submitted applications for visas for the entire squad and other board officials to the Indian High Commission in Islamabad for clearance at an early stage.
“The Indian commission has cleared the issuance of visas for our team and that means that we will face no issues playing in India if we qualify for those matches,” a board official said.
Pakistan have not played in India or against India since the Mumbai terror attacks in November 2008, but the PCB is pushing the BCCI and the ICC to pave the way for resumption of bilateral cricketing ties, at least at neutral venues.
