England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Chief Executive Tom Harrison has admitted that he was “concerned” by the board’s failure to obtain visa for Pakistan heritage cricketer Saqib Mahmood for India travel. According to a ESPNcricinfo report, 21-year-old Lancashire fast bowler Mahmood was due to go to India as part of the England Lions limited-overs squad earlier this year. But delays in obtaining his visa, caused in part by his Pakistan heritage, eventually saw him replaced in the squad by Tom Bailey. “We worked closely with the BCCI to try and get Saqib a visa. “It’s difficult because once you’ve got politics involved… tours are only so long and if there’s a block there.

Source: Pakistan Today February 22, 2019 17:37 UTC