shahid afridi, rashid latif, pakistan india odi series, pakistan india t20 series, pakistan india kolkata, pakistan india 2nd odi, pakistan india eden gardens, pakistan india live coverage, pakistan india updates,pakistan india series, pakistan india odis, pakistan's tour of india, bcci, pcb, pakistan cricket
Javed Miandad speaks to Shoaib Malik at a training session. – File photo by AFP

MUMBAI: Former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad disclosed on Tuesday that he will be witnessing the third One-day International against India on Delhi on Jan 6 and has already received the visa for the same.

“My visa and tickets are ready and I shall be in Delhi for the third ODI match scheduled for Jan 6,” he said.

In 2005, it was reported in the press that any requests for a visa by the former captain could be turned down due to his son Junaid’s marriage to Mahrukh, the daughter of Dawood Ibrahim who is still wanted in India in connection with the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts case.

Speaking exclusively from Lahore on Tuesday, Miandad said: “I faced absolutely no problem in getting the Indian visa and am quite excited about travelling to Delhi for the big game.”

However, Miandad could not exactly recall the last time he went to India. “I came to India for a TV programme. I also had my visa ready for the World Cup semi-final in Mohali, but owing to some last-minute changes, I had to cancel my India trip,” he added.

Miandad currently holds the second most powerful position in the PCB, that of director general, and is directly reporting to the chairman, Zaka Ashraf.

“In the line of duty for the PCB, I have a number of assignments at hand and do not get time to come to India often,” he stressed.

The PCB has made arrangements to send a few former cricketing greats to India to witness the ODI matches.

Three out of five Mohammad brothers will be in India for the remaining two ODIs.

“I am granted the visa for Kolkata and Delhi,” Mushtaq Mohammad said from London. “I am leaving for Kolkata tonight,” he added.

“Sadiq Mohammad is already there in Kolkata and Hanif Mohammad will join me in Delhi,” he added.

All Mohammad brothers — Hanif, Wazir, Raees, Mushtaq and Sadiq Mohammad — were born in India before partition.

The World Cup winning captain Imran Khan has declined invitation citing political commitments. His cousin and former CEO, Majid Khan too has declined to come to India.

Opinion

Editorial

Tough talks
Updated 16 Apr, 2024

Tough talks

The key to unlocking fresh IMF funds lies in convincing the lender that Pakistan is now ready to undertake real reforms.
Caught unawares
Updated 16 Apr, 2024

Caught unawares

The government must prioritise the upgrading of infrastructure to withstand extreme weather.
Going off track
16 Apr, 2024

Going off track

LIKE many other state-owned enterprises in the country, Pakistan Railways is unable to deliver, while haemorrhaging...
Iran’s counterstrike
Updated 15 Apr, 2024

Iran’s counterstrike

Israel, by attacking Iran’s diplomatic facilities and violating Syrian airspace, is largely responsible for this dangerous situation.
Opposition alliance
15 Apr, 2024

Opposition alliance

AFTER the customary Ramazan interlude, political activity has resumed as usual. A ‘grand’ opposition alliance ...
On the margins
15 Apr, 2024

On the margins

IT appears that we are bent upon taking the majoritarian path. Thus, the promise of respect and equality for the...