LAHORE, Aug 11: After late clearance from the Ministry of Interior to the 24-member wrestling squad of the Indian Punjab on Monday, the visitors are due to arrive in Lahore via Wagah Border on Aug 17 instead of Aug 12 to play a four-matche series at different cities.

“The Interior Ministry issued the clearance to 24-member Indian Punjab wrestling squad and they will now apply for visas to the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi on Tuesday.” technical director of the series Khawar Shah told reporters here on Monday.

“We have communicated the decision of the interior ministry to the Indian Punjab Wrestling Association and hopefully the visitors will arrive on Aug 17,” he said.

The matches between the Indian and Pakistani Punjab wrestlers are to be held in Multan, Bahawalpur, Gujranwala and Lahore.

Khawar said a new schedule of the matches would be announced soon and it was likely the first would be held at Multan on Aug 20, instead of Aug 15.

Regarding the issue of Rustam-i-Pakistan Bashir Bhola Bhala, who has reportedly decided not to take part in the title bout against Navin Kumar, due to his allegation of paying him less payment for his title bout of ‘Sher-i-Pakistan” held last month, Khawar said there was no issue and the wrestler had been paid according to the contract.

Even he would not play, Hamid Khan of Multan was ready to meet Naveen Kumar in the title bout at Lahore, he said.