Will Pakistani Cricketers get Indian visas for LLC?

The second edition of the Legends League Cricket (LLC) is set to be played in six Indian cities, with players from numerous nations taking part in the tournament.

The first season of the league was played in January this year in Muscat, Oman between three teams- India Maharajas, World Giants and Asia Lions – and contained seven games. However, season 2 will have four franchise owned teams. There will be 15 matches, which will be played in six cities— Kolkata, Lucknow, Delhi, Jodhpur, Cuttack and Rajkot from September 17 to October 8.

Former Indian skipper and current BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has also confirmed that he would be taking part in a very special match of the LLC.

“Enjoying the training to get ready to play for one-off charity fundraising game for azadi ka mahotsav..75 years of Indian independence and also for women empowerment with the top legends of the legends league cricket @llct20 need to hit some cricket balls soon,”

wrote Ganguly on Instagram

Nonetheless, the major issue before the coordinators is visa accessibility for former Pakistan cricketers, who are likewise set to participate in the competition. Questions are arising that has the BCCI or the Government of India altered its stance vis-a-vis its cricketing ties with Pakistan.

Notably, India and Pakistan haven’t played a bilateral series for nearly a decade now and they only face each other in Asia Cup and ICC events because of political strains between the two countries.The Indian Premier League (IPL) likewisalso doesn’t permit Pakistan players to participate besides in the first season of the league in 2008.

Asked about the situation, barely any BCCI authorities aren’t much aware about the visa issue.

“I can’t say much. If Pakistani cricketers get a visa from our government, then they will play if not then no. We (BCCI) have no role in the tournament or visa things,”

the official told IANS

“How can Pakistan’s players be allowed to play on Indian soil when we have no cricketing ties with Pakistan. I am sure they will not get a visa.”

Another official questioned

The LLC season 2 has a not insignificant rundown of former cricketers from Pakistan including Shoaib Akhtar, Misbah-ul Haq, Shahid Afridi and numerous others containing the Asia and World XI team. Thus, it will be fascinating to see the Indian government’s position on giving visas to Pakistani players, particularly when the country doesn’t have bilateral cricketing ties with the neighbouring country.

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It is additionally noticed that all Pakistan cricketers, both former and current, large numbers of whom are playing in the League are strong advocates and promoters of the Kashmir Premier League (KPL).

The Government of India and BCCI have strongly protested and condemned the organising of the Kashmir Premier League (KPL) and have prohibited all cricketers playing in KPL from playing any form of cricket in India.

Will India Give Visas to Pakistani Cricketers for Legends League Cricket? #India #Pakistan #IndiaPakistan https://t.co/O2DoD1n5hd

— IPLClub (@my_iplclub) August 11, 2022