LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has sought a written guarantee from the International Cricket Council (ICC) for the players’ visas ahead of the T20 World Cup 2021, scheduled to be held in India.
Addressing a press conference along with PCB CEO Wasim Khan and NHPC Director Nadeem Khan, PCB Chairman Ehsan Mani said that he had asked the ICC to confirm in writing that the visas of everyone — including the players, journalists, squads, and the crowd — would be approved for the World Cup.
“There is a virtual meeting with the ICC tomorrow,” Mani said, vowing to raise the issue again then. The PCB chairman further said that a decision on the venue for the T20 World Cup was expected before March 31.
“If it was not confirmed for India, the tournament would be shifted to the United Arab Emirates (UAE),” Ehsan Mani added. He pointed out that India was facing three problems for hosting the world cup: the Pakistani visas, tax exemption, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
He stresses that if the T20 World Cup was to be held in India, then the country would have to extend full cooperation — such as visas and full security to the squad — to Pakistan.
Commenting on the ACC Asia Cup 2021, Mani said it looked like the ACC Asia Cup would be impossible this year as well. “Sri Lanka would host the ACC Asia Cup in June but there’s now a clash of dates as the ICC Test Championship’s final match is in June also. India is close to qualify for the final to be played in London,” he added.
“It seems like the Asia Cup will have to be postponed till 2023,” the PCB chairman added. Taking over the presser, Nadeem Khan informed that a series of trials for city cricket was about to start soon and more than 90 teams would be formed.
