India visa in advance though Pak not playing GP stage there

Karachi, Feb 2 (PTI) Pakistan Cricket Board has alreadyapplied for visas of their players to Indian High Commissionfor the Cricket World Cup in order to avoid any hassles lateron though they are not playing in India in the group stage,sources said today.

Sources in the PCB told PTI that the Board had alreadycompleted all documentation and informed the Indian HighCommission in Islamabad that it would require visas before theteam''s departure for Bangladesh on February 10.

"After the issue of the three Pakistani players in theCanadian team facing problems in getting visas from the Indianauthorities, the PCB has decided not take any chances at all,"one source said.

He said as one quarterfinal is being scheduled inAhmedabad and the second placed team of Group A has to playthere, the PCB is planning out things in advance.

"There is every likelihood that Pakistan might have toplay its quarterfinal at Ahmedabad," the source said.

The source said as soon as the Pakistan team returns fromNew Zealand on February 7 their passports would be sent forthe visas to the Indian High Commission.

"So far, the Indian High Commission has given noindication that the Pakistan team might face problems gettingvisas to play in India," the source added.

"But the PCB has decided to get visas stamped before theteam leaves for the World Cup," he added.

Bilateral cricket relations between Pakistan and Indiahave remain suspended since November 2008 when the Mumbaiterror attack took place.

Pakistani players have not been allowed to play in thelucrative Indian Premier League since 2008.