ISLAMABAD: The diplomatic row between Pakistan and India has intensified following the refusal of the Indian High Commission to grant visas to most of the Pakistan Scrabble team players, preventing the defending champions from taking part in the Asia Cup Youth Scrabble Championship and Delhi Cup.
Despite submitting applications two months in advance, the Indian High Commission has delayed processing, issuing some visas too late for players to attend, Pakistan Scrabble Association (PSA) Director Tariq Perez told APP.
He added half of the team was refused visas without explanation, including players who had previously attended and won in India in 2022.
The organisers of the championship had obtained the necessary clearances and assured Pakistani players of visas. The events are being held in New Delhi from November 11-17.
Nafisa Mustafa, one of the Pakistani participants, expressing her disappointment in a Facebook post said: All the best to all the players. It was unfortunate that Pakistan couldn’t join.
Pakistan’s 16-year-old Affan Salman won the 19th World Youth Scrabble Championship 2024 in Sri Lanka in September. The Pakistani team won the team trophy as well and was ranked number one team.
This is not the first time that India has refused to uphold the sporting spirit and politicised the games. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had also decided not to send the Indian team to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy, scheduled to take place in February next year and suggested a hybrid model for the mega tournament.
Pakistan’s government is reportedly weighing a strong response including a boycott of all future matches with India.
“The Pakistan Cricket Board has received an email from the ICC (International Cricket Council), stating that the Indian board has informed them that their team will not travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025,” PCB spokesman Sami Ul Hasan told AFP.
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The Indian government’s decision has disappointed cricket fans across the region and even in India invited a barrage of criticism against the Modi-led-BJP government.
The diplomatic challenges continue to impact regional events as India had also denied visas to a delegation of Pakistani air traffic controllers (ATCs) who were set to participate in the International Air Traffic Controllers Asia-Pacific Conference, scheduled from November 9 to 11 in New Delhi, the Express Tribune reported.
The three-member Pakistani delegation had planned to attend the conference, which gathers air traffic professionals from across the region to discuss industry developments and cooperation.
