July 4, 2002	Thursday	Rabi-us-Sani 22,1423

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ISLAMABAD, July 3: Two members of the Pakistan team which is to take part in this month’s 9th IAAF World Junior Championships in Kingston, Jamaica, are finding it difficult to obtain transit visas of Britain, a spokesman for the Pakistan Amateur Athletics Federation (PAAF) told Dawn Wednesday.

Sajjada Ramzan, a 800m runner and manager Capt. Zafar Mahmood, Director Naval Sports and PT Directorate, have been told that transit visas to Britain are not currently being granted and they would have to wait another week before the ban is lifted.

The team has to make a brief stopover in England before heading to Jamaica, who have already announced that team and federation officials, athletes and mediamen coming for the July 16 to 21 championships would not require a visa.

The PAAF spokesman pointed out that waiting for the British visas for a week or so could jeopardise their plans and they would be left with no option but to give the championship a miss.

A second Pakistani athlete named for the event is Mohammad Nadeem Akhtar who is based in Italy and would be flying directly from there. He is due to compete in the 3000m steeplechase.