Insiders indicate that the Indian cricket board had made a request for visas to be issued for its seven officials.
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi has granted visas to three officials from The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for their participation in the upcoming Asia Cup. Among those issued visas are BCCI President Roger Binni and Vice President Rajiv Shukla.
Insiders have revealed that the Indian cricket board had submitted a visa request for a total of seven officials. The visas were approved for President BCCI Roger Binni, Vice President BCCI Rajiv Shukla, and Executive Assistant BCCI Muhammad Akram. It is anticipated that the Pakistan High Commission will also approve a visa for BCCI Secretary Jay Shah.
In the meantime, both the President and Vice President of BCCI have affirmed their intentions to travel to Pakistan. Roger Binni shared that he and Rajiv Shukla are scheduled to arrive in Pakistan on September 04. Their visit will encompass watching the Asia Cup matches and participating in a state dinner. Binni expressed optimism that this visit will serve to rekindle cricketing ties between Pakistan and India.
According to Binni, matches between Pakistan and India hold greater significance than even the Ashes series, as they attract substantial crowds.
Notably, Binni’s visit will mark the first instance of a BCCI President visiting Pakistan in 18 years. The last visit of a BCCI President to Pakistan was in 2005 for an Asian Cricket Council camp.
The Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi has taken a significant step towards fostering cricketing ties between arch-rivals Pakistan and India by granting visas to three officials from The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for their forthcoming participation in the highly anticipated Asia Cup. Among the prominent figures issued visas are BCCI President Roger Binni and Vice President Rajiv Shukla, signaling a potential thaw in the cricketing relations between the two nations.
Inside sources within the cricketing circles have divulged that the Indian cricket board had diligently submitted a comprehensive visa request, aimed at facilitating the travel of a total of seven officials. Deliberations led to the approval of visas for key BCCI figures, including President BCCI Roger Binni, Vice President BCCI Rajiv Shukla, and the esteemed Executive Assistant BCCI Muhammad Akram. As the stage is set, expectations are high that the Pakistan High Commission will extend its hospitality further by granting a visa to BCCI Secretary Jay Shah, fortifying the representation of the Indian cricket board.
In a remarkable development, both the President and Vice President of BCCI have unequivocally expressed their eagerness to embrace this cricketing diplomacy. Shedding light on their plans, Roger Binni conveyed that he and Rajiv Shukla are slated to embark on their visit to Pakistan on September 04. This landmark visit will not only witness their engagement in witnessing the fervently contested Asia Cup matches but also their participation in a prestigious state dinner, symbolizing a blend of sportsmanship and international camaraderie.
Roger Binni, with a hopeful outlook, emphasized that this significant visit could herald the revival of cricketing ties that have, at times, been marred by political tensions. He underscored the unique significance of matches between Pakistan and India, asserting that they command unparalleled attention and fervor, even surpassing the famed Ashes series, as they draw massive crowds, transcend borders, and unite cricket enthusiasts on both sides.
A noteworthy aspect of this impending journey is that it marks an unprecedented event in the realm of cricket diplomacy. Roger Binni’s visit will etch history as the first instance of a BCCI President setting foot on Pakistani soil in 18 years. The last such visit was recorded in 2005 when the then President of BCCI visited Pakistan for an Asian Cricket Council camp. This upcoming visit holds the promise of strengthening cricket as a unifying force that transcends political narratives and underlines the power of sports in bridging divides.
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