Visa applications of Pakistan players received today
The nine Pakistani players - Mohammed Rizwan Jr., Mohammed Rizwaan Sr. (Delhi Wave Riders ), Sayeed Kashif Shah (Punjab Warriors ), Shafqat Rasool, Mohammed Irfan (Ranchi Rhinos), Mahmood Tousiq, Mahmood Rashid, Fareed Ahmed and Imran Butt (Mumbai Magicians) - were to land in India between January 7 and 9.
The Indian High Commission here on Thursday said that it had received the visa applications of the nine Pakistani players bound for the inaugural Hockey India League only today and will issue them visas "as quickly as possible".
"We have received the visa applications of the nine players today by courier. We are now working hard to get the visas issued to them by today," an official of the High Commission said.
A question mark cropped up over the participation of the Pakistan players in the league when none of the nine players contracted with four HIL franchisees arrived in the country till yesterday.
According to media reports, the visas of the players could have been put on hold because of the alleged killing of two Indian soldiers by the Pakistani armed forces at the LOC on Tuesday.
The nine Pakistani players - Mohammed Rizwan Jr., Mohammed Rizwaan Sr. (Delhi Wave Riders ), Sayeed Kashif Shah (Punjab Warriors ), Shafqat Rasool, Mohammed Irfan (Ranchi Rhinos), Mahmood Tousiq, Mahmood Rashid, Fareed Ahmed and Imran Butt (Mumbai Magicians) - were to land in India between January 7 and 9.
The Pakistani players were bought by four of the five franchises during the HIL players' auction in New Delhi on December 16 last year.
The much-anticipated five-team HIL is scheduled to begin in New Delhi on January 14 and will conclude in Ranchi on February 10.