PCB applies for Pak team Indian visas

KARACHI (Agencies) - The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has applied for players visas to Indian High Commission for this month's ICC Cricket World Cup 2011. Sources told to Sports Encounter on Thursday that the PCB doesn't want any hassles later in the tournament therefore it has applied for the visas in advance. Pakistan are not scheduled to play any of their group stages matches in India but in case of qualifying for quarter-finals and semi-finals, they will have to travel to India. Acting wisely, for a change though, the top PCB officials have already completed the documentation process and sent them to Indian High Commission located in Islamabad, sources said. They further stated that the Indian embassy officials have also been told that the PCB requires visas of Pakistani cricketers before their departure to Bangladesh on February 10. Sources stated that the steps were also taken in the wake of a recent visa issues with three Canadian players of Pakistani-origin. PCB is not ready to take any chances in this regard, they added. One of the four quarter-finals is scheduled in Ahmedabad where the second placed team in Group A would compete and there may be a chance that Pakistan qualify for the next stage as the number two in their group. Visas of Pakistani players would be sent to Indian High Commission as soon as the Men in Green return from New Zealand on February 7, 2011.

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