Pakistan – Karachi: Special visas refused for Pakistani cricket fans. The United Arab Emirates has refused to issue special cricket visas for Pakistani fans wanting to catch their team in action against world champions Australia in a one-day series there next month.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had requested the United Arab Emirates for special visas for the five-match series to be held in Abu Dhabi and Dubai from April 22 to May 7.
On Friday Ejaz Butt the PCB chairman said "They have not accepted this proposal for variety of reasons but we had moved this proposal since lot of people in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and other cities were keen to go and watch the one-day series."
The five one-day internationals would be followed by a Twenty20. Cricket Australia had refused to send its team to Pakistan because of security concerns of its players.
Last year also Australia had scrapped a Test tour to Pakistan for security reasons. Butt said the two boards are yet to sign a memorandum of understanding for the upcoming series.
"But there is nothing to worry about, it will be signed soon as both boards first want to put everything into place in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. We want to have a clear understanding with Australia and make them comfortable since we are the hosts of the series," Butt said.