T20 World Cup in India: BCCI assures ICC it will get visas for Pakistani cricketers
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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has assured the ICC that it will be able to get the visas for the Pakistan Cricket team to play the T20 World Cup in India, The Hindu reported on Friday. The 7th edition of the T20 World Cup is scheduled to be played in India later this year.
Due to the political tensions between the two countries, there were doubts if the Pakistan players would be granted visas. The BCCI is confident of getting the visas for the Men in Green.
As per The Times of India, the BCCI assured the apex body regarding the same during the quarterly meeting which took place today (April 1). India and Pakistan haven't played a bilateral series since 2012/13. 8 years back, the Men in Green had landed in India for a white-ball series. The two teams now only square off in ICC events and Asia Cup.
The BCCI's response to ICC comes after the PCB had sought a written assurance regarding visas for its players, fans, officials and journalists.
"There is a need to change the 'Big Three' mindset. We are not seeking written assurance for the visas of the national team only, but for the fans, officials and journalists as well," Ehsan Mani was quoted as saying by PTI in February.
"We have told the ICC that India should give written assurances by the end of March so that we know where we stand or we will push for the relocation of the World Cup from India to UAE."
The Pakistan cricket team was issued visas for the 2016 T20 World Cup. They haven't travelled to India since then.
The 2021 T20 World Cup will be played in October-November. It's for the second time that India will host the tournament. In 2016, West Indies' Men's and Women's cricket team had won the T20 tournament.