BCCI calls PCB CEO ignorant after the latter wants visa assurance from ICC for T20 World Cup 2021 in India

The International Cricket Council (ICC) and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) dismissed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) CEO Wasim Khan’s efforts of stirring a controversy regarding India being the host for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2021. A few days back Wasim Khan had reckoned that the rival nation India will not issue visas for Pakistan players owing to the political tension between the two countries.

However, dispelling such claims, ICC clarified the decision of India hosting the marquee event was taken after BCCI ensured that it will provide visas for all the touring sides. They further added that an agreement has been signed for the same with the Indian board.

“The Host Agreement for all ICC events, including the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021, provides that the host member will ensure visas are provided for all competing teams. The planning for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 in India is underway on that basis,” the spokesperson said as quoted by The New Indian Express.

This issue was laid to rest last year: BCCI official

Meanwhile, BCCI also explained that the Pakistan players are very much eligible for getting visas for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Calling Wasim ignorant, the official stated that this issue of visa assurance to Pakistani players was laid to rest last year.

“I think that statement of the PCB CEO stemmed from ignorance. This issue was laid to rest last year itself when the GOI (Government of India) had written to the Presidents of the IOA and the IOC on the issue. So unless he is privy to some future course of action to be taken by Pakistan that would deteriorate the circumstances drastically, it is a non-issue,” the BCCI official told

Last year, a couple of Pakistani shooters were denied visas to take part in the ISSF World Shooting Championship held in Delhi. As a consequence of the same, then Sports Secretary had issued a letter stating the country of origin of any athlete wouldn’t be a barrier for him/her to compete in international sports events in the country.

“It’s the policy of the government that India will hold international sporting events and will permit all qualified athletes belonging to any National Olympic Committee (NOC) recognised by IOC or any national federation affiliated to the international federation concerned to participate. Such participation of athletes shall be without prejudice to our principled positions and policies on other political matters including issues such as international recognition or otherwise of the country of origin of the athletes,” Julaniya had written to Indian Olympic Association’s (IOA) President Narinder Batra.