Getting the infrastructure (read stadiums) ready for the World Cup has not been the only problem for the central organising committee of the tournament.
Getting the infrastructure (read stadiums) ready for the World Cup has not been the only problem for the central organising committee of the tournament. In fact, the quadrennial showpiece event is turning out to be a logistical nightmare for the COC. Close on the heels of the visa issue concerning Canada’s Pakistan-born players, the organisers are faced with certain ‘issues’ from the Delhi police over the ‘central accreditation’ granted to journalists and other World Cup officials.
Having had their own process of accreditation for events like the Hockey World Cup as well as the Commonwealth Games last year, the Delhi police is learnt to have raised security concerns.
The main objection, it is learnt, has come from the VIP security division in the ministry of home affairs. Correspondences have been exchanged among a joint secretary in the Union home ministry, Ranjit Kumar Das, full-time security advisor of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and tournament director Ratnakar Shetty, on this matter.
On their part, the COC has been trying to impress upon the police about the foolproof process of accreditation. The COC has also sounded out Arun Jaitley, president of the Delhi and Districts Cricket Association (DDCA), the host association.
The COC has been corresponding with the police, requesting them to validate the accreditation process but there has been no major breakthrough yet. A Delhi police spokesman could not comment on the issue, but Shetty is confident of resolving the matter. “We are coordinating with the DDCA. The police have their own rules but I don’t see it becoming a major issue,” Shetty said.
And given that ICC president Sharad Pawar is a Union minister, the COC is confident that such issues will be resolved soon.
Delhi are scheduled to host four matches — on February 24 (South Africa vs West Indies), February 28 (West Indies vs the Netherlands), March 7 (Canada vs Kenya) and March 9 (India vs Netherlands).
Interestingly enough, the police departments of other cities have not raised an objection. The World Cup is being held in eight Indian cities — Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, Mohali, Mumbai and Nagpur, besides New Delhi. “It should not be problem. We will have this matter solved,” said Shetty.
Meanwhile, Canada said that the three Pakistan-born players in their side have got Indian visas. Persons of Pakistan origin can get visa to only one Indian city.
South Africa, too, have a Pakistan-born player, Imran Tahir, in their side. The Proteas are, however, confident that Tahir will be granted visa. “We have good relations with the Indian government and we don’t see any issues here,” a team spokesman said. Tahir was granted a South African passport recently.
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