By Jaideep Sarin, IANS
Mohali : The recent bombings in various parts of India have taken a toll on cricket with only 250 Pakistanis being allowed to come to watch the one-day international (ODI) in Mohali next month.
Only 250 visas have been allowed for fans wanting to cross the border at Attari-Wagah to see the ODI match between India and Pakistan to be played Nov 8 at the majestic Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) ground at Mohali, 10 km from Chandigarh.
The visa figure allowed for Pakistani fans – by the home ministry and the ministry of external affairs – is drastically truncated despite a request by the PCA to the home ministry for 5,000 visas .
The home ministry’s reluctance to issue more visas is being linked by Punjab Police and security agencies to the recent spate of bombings in Hyderabad, Ajmer and Ludhiana in which several people died.
Security agencies investigating the bombings have pointed to links with suspected bombers in Pakistan and Bangladesh.
In recent years, Pakistani and Indian fans have been liberally issued visas to visit each others’ country to watch matches between the traditional rivals. The last match played in March 2005 between the two sides at the PCA stadium – a Test match – saw over 4,000 Pakistani fans coming here.
Thousands of spectators from both sides have gone across the border following renewed bonhomie since 2003 between the two countries to witness cricket matches.
“We are sending only 250 tickets to the Pakistan Cricket Board for sale at Lahore since only that many visas have been allowed this time,” PCA treasurer G.S. Walia said.
The tickets being sent will also be out of the reach of the common cricket lovers in the neighbouring country since they are for the expensive terrace block here – each ticket costing Rs.5,000.
“The limited number of visas and expensive tickets will be lapped up by powerful people in Pakistan. Real cricket lovers will have to stay put in Pakistan. The stadium will also have minimal Pakistani supporters. The atmosphere will be one-sided, in favour of India,” a senior PCA functionary told IANS.
The PCA stadium, which has a capacity of 30,000 spectators, is about 300 km from Lahore. Security arrangements for the Nov 8 ODI will be tight.
“The home ministry must not have cleared more visas this time because of intelligence reports that mischievous elements could come into India under the garb of watching a match. Some of the fans had gone missing two years ago also,” a senior Punjab Police official said here.
Nine Pakistani fans had gone missing in India after the March 2005 Test match. Though two of them were arrested later, the whereabouts of the rest are still not known. Security agencies believe that these people could have come here to set up cells to create trouble in India.
In the past, Pakistani fans were accorded a warm welcome by people in India and cricket officials. Indian fans were greeted as warmly when they went to see matches in Lahore. A limited number of Pakistani fans had come to Mohali last year during the Champions Trophy matches.