ICC yet to Receive Assurance Indian Player Visa Issuance

ICC is yet to receive the assurance from its Indian chapter regarding the exemption of the tax and issuance of the visas to all the participating countries for the T20 World Cup.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in February this year conveyed to the ICC that its team could participate in the World Cup only if the BCCI gave a written assurance on the issuance of visas and security to the Pakistan teams, as well as their fans and media personnel as the ties between the two neighbouring countries are not exemplary.

PCB set the deadline for the assurance, which has passed. The PCB in this regard had also warned if the BCCI did not give the assurance, the PCB would demand the ICC shift the mega event from India to the UAE.

Board received an update on the ongoing preparations around the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 in India. This included an update from the BCCI on positive discussions with the Indian government around tax arrangements and visa guarantees. It is anticipated that both issues will be resolved over the next month,” an ICC press release issued after Thursday’s ICC Board and Committee meetings held virtually.

Last week, there was a media report that the BCCI had given the guarantee to the ICC about the issuance of visas to all the participating countries.

Indian government had refused visas to the Pakistani athletes for different international events, until the International Olympic Committee (IOC) took a strict decision of ordering all the countries not to award any international event to India unless its respective national sports body didn’t give assurance about visas to all the participants, players and officials. However, contrary to the IOC stance, the ICC has not yet shown such a strong stand to the BCCI.

“The ICC Board agreed to set up a Member Support Fund for Cricket with $5 million being made available in grants to support the playing of international cricket. The fund will be made available in form of a “co-payment” contribution with a maximum grant of 50% being available for Members upon application,” the ICC release added.

Moreover the the ICC Cricket Committee headed by former Indian captain Anil Kumble also considered the current issues in the international game, and presented its recommendations which were approved.

One of the issues discussed was the current approach to umpire’s call.

“The Cricket Committee had an excellent discussion around umpire’s call and analysed its use extensively. The principle underpinning DRS was to correct clear errors in the game whilst ensuring the role of the umpire as the decision maker on the field of play was preserved, bearing in mind the element of prediction involved with the technology. Umpire’s call allows that to happen, which is why it is important it remains,” Kumble said.

“In addition, three other changes to the DRS and third umpire protocols were approved. These are as follows:

“For LBW reviews, the height margin of the wicket zone will be lifted to the top of the stumps to ensure the same umpire’s call margin around the stumps for both height and width.

And they said, “A player will be able to ask the umpire whether a genuine attempt has been made to play the ball before deciding to review an LBW decision.

“The third umpire will check a replay of any short run that has been called and correct any error prior to the next ball being bowled,”.