Cricket enthusiasts in Afghanistan and Afghan exiles abroad are facing difficulties obtaining Pakistani visas to attend the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy, set to begin on February 19 in Pakistan.
Many Afghan fans, eager to support their national team in its debut at the prestigious tournament, have encountered bureaucratic hurdles. Some allege that visas are being denied due to political considerations. Others claim visas are available on the black market for exorbitant prices, making travel unaffordable for most. Obtaining a Pakistani visa has historically been a complex and corruption-ridden process, making it a widespread issue for Afghans.
Visa Obstacles for Afghan Fans
Raza Shah, a resident of Khost province near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border and a passionate cricket player, expressed his frustration. “My teammates and I were thrilled to watch an international cricket match in person finally. This was a dream opportunity since Afghanistan has never hosted international cricket due to security concerns. But for the past month, I have been traveling back and forth to Kabul to get a Pakistani visa, and they refuse to issue it. On the black market, a visa costs $1,200, which we simply cannot afford,” Shah told Yaraan.
Samiullah, a sports journalist for a local radio station in Nangarhar province, criticized Pakistan’s situation handling. “It is the responsibility of any host country to facilitate travel for all teams’ fans, ensuring they can attend matches safely. But Pakistan is not following these principles. These matches should not have been scheduled there,” he said.
The difficulties are not limited to Afghanistan. Afghan cricket fans in Europe and other parts of the world have also reported issues obtaining Pakistani visas despite repeated attempts.
Yusuf Khan, an Afghan resident of Germany and a devoted supporter of the national team, frequently travels to India and the United Arab Emirates to watch matches. He claims his visa application was rejected solely because his passport contained an Indian visa. “The ICC must either stop scheduling international tournaments in Pakistan or ensure that Pakistani authorities separate politics from sports. Cricket fans should not be treated unfairly based on diplomatic tensions,” Khan said.
Calls for Action from the ICC and Afghan Cricket Board
Cricket fans have called on the International Cricket Council (ICC) to pressure Pakistan to ease the visa process for Afghan spectators. They also urged the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) to engage in official discussions with its Pakistani counterpart to resolve the issue.
“We expect the ACB to intervene and ensure Afghan fans have access to travel visas like supporters from other countries,” one fan stated.
(Photo: Afghanistan Cricket Board)
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Tournament Details and Afghanistan’s Fixtures
The ICC Champions Trophy begins on February 19 and will be primarily held in Pakistan, although some matches are scheduled in the United Arab Emirates. Afghanistan’s opening match is set for February 21 against South Africa in Karachi. The team will face England on February 26 and Australia on February 28 in Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.
This marks Afghanistan’s first-ever appearance in the ICC Champions Trophy, heightening excitement among cricket fans who had hoped to witness their team’s historic participation in person.
As the tournament approaches, Afghan cricket enthusiasts remain hopeful that a resolution will be reached that will allow them to support their team from the stands rather than watching from afar.
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