It may have needed the intervention of the Prime Minister’s Office to ensure the Faislabad Wolves would travel to India for the Champions League in the first place, but Pakistan’s domestic T20 champions have found their troubles are far from over.
Having arrived here on Saturday after considerable drama over their India visas in the first place, the initial group of Faislabad players were put up at a Chandigarh hotel along with the Sunrisers Hyderbad, and Kandurata Maroons of Sri Lanka.
Otago Volts of New Zealand are the fourth team in the qualifying tournament that will be played here over the next four days.
On Sunday however, the Faislabad team members were asked to move out when it was found that their visas were valid only for Mohali, a suburb that falls under Punjab, and where the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium — venue of the qualifiers — is located. For now, the Misbah-ul Haq-led Wolves have moved into the PCA clubhouse, part of the stadium complex here.
“We will accommodate them in the clubhouse for today and the BCCI is in touch with the ministry of external affairs and home ministry to see that they get visas for Chandigarh also,” PCA joint secretary G.S. Walia said.
“We are hopeful that it will be done by Monday and they will be shifted back to the Chandigarh hotel.” Added team coach Naveed Anjum, “There are some issues and they are being sorted out.” Wolves take on Otago Volts in the first of the six qualifying games on Tuesday afternoon.