India to issue multi-city visas to Pak fans for WT20

India will issue multi-city short- term visas to Pakistani cricket fans willing to watch their team play during the forthcoming World Twenty20 tournament, including a high-voltage rescheduled match against the hosts in Kolkata.

“We are willing to issue multi-city visa if Pakistani fans have tickets and accommodation for all cities in which Pakistan is going to play,” a senior Home Ministry official said.

The travel document will be issued when the Pakistani spectators furnish tickets of matches, return tickets for road or rail or air transport and accommodation bookings. 

Even through number of visas were earlier restricted to 250 per venue, Home Ministry is willing to issue additional visas if more Pakistanis apply for the travel document.

The period of visa will also depend on tickets of how many matches one can furnish.

India has relaxed rules by exempting Pakistani fans aged above 65 years from reporting before a police station.

“Current visa policy for Pakistani spectators is more liberal than before,” the official said.

Those fans who got visas for Dharamshala will have to approach Indian missions in Pakistan again as the venue has been changed. The match will now be played in Kolkata.