Miandad granted visa for Indo-Pak tie in Capital

Former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad on Wednesday confirmed that he has been granted an Indian visa that will allow him to attend the final one-dayer of the series between the two countries in New Delhi on January 6. "I am going to New Delhi on January 5 to watch the match between India and Pakistan the following day. I also have a visa for Ajmer Sharif and will go there as well," Miandad said.

Due to Miandad's family ties with Dawood Ibrahim, India's most wanted terrorist, there had been reports before a series in 2005 that any requests for a visa by the batting great could be turned down by the Indian government. Miandad's son Junaid is married to Mahrukh, the daughter of Dawood.

Miandad, however, brushed aside the impression that India was "out of bounds" for him. "Why should anybody be bothered about me in India with regard to Dawood Ibrahim? His (Ibrahim's) family members are there and they should be quizzed first," he said.

"The Home Ministry has given guidelines to the Indian High Commission in Islamabad to give visas to the team members, coaches, PCB officials and visitors who have tickets for the matches as well as return tickets," a government official said in Delhi. Miandad, currently holds the second most powerful position in the PCB — that of director general — and directly reports to the chairman, Zaka Ashraf.

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