PCB picthes for more visas for Pak fans

Lahore, Oct 26 (UNI) Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially asked BCCI to provide more visas to its nationals for its upcoming tour to India starting from next month.

Zakir Khan, the Board's Director of Operations, told 'The News' ''We have asked the BCCI to issue ample number of visas because a lot of fans would want to go and see matches in India.'' The Director of Operations was reacting to reports coming from India that number of visas given to the Pak nationals will be truncated with only a handfull of Pakistanis -- 250 in total -- are being allowed to come to watch the Mohali ODI.

The visa figure allowed for Pakistani fans has been drastically reduced despite a request by the Punjab Cricket Association, for 5,000 visas.

Indian government's decision to issue less number of visas is being linked to the recent spate of bombings in Hyderabad, Ajmer and Ludhiana in which several people died.

Security agencies investigating the bombings have pointed to the links with suspected bombers in Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Zakir, however, hoped that BCCI will intervene and ensure that Pakistani fans are not deprived the opportunity to watch their team in action on the tour of India.

UNI