Faisalabad Wolves players kicked out of Chandigarh hotel

Misbah Ul Haq the captain of the Faisalabad Wolves

Players of the Pakistani franchise Faisalabad Wolves were forced to vacate their hotel in Chandigarh due to the fact that their visas were only valid for Mohali, NDTV Sports reports.

The Misbah-Ul-Haq led team touched down in Chandigarh on Saturday in order to participate in the Champions League T20 on Tuesday.

Visa problems forced the team to shift to the clubhouse of Punjab Cricket Association stadium in Mohali.

“The PCA will accommodate them in the clubhouse for today (Sunday) and the BCCI is in touch with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Home Ministry to see that they get visas for Chandigarh also. We are hopeful that it will be done by Monday and they will be shifted back to the Chandigarh hotel,” PCA Joint Secretary GS Walia told reporters here.

“There are some issues and they are being sorted out,” added Faisalabad coach Naveed Anjum.

Chandigarh currently host rival teams Kandurata Maroons of Sri Lanka and Sunrisers Hyderabad.

The Pakistan-based team players were initially refused visas amid concerns of breaches in security.

Faisalabad Wolves will face New Zealand franchise Otago, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kandurata Maroons in their quarter of the tournament.

A source in Pakistan said that Faisalabad Wolves had not applied for a Chandigarh visa. The source also said that obtaining a visa that permits the team to stay in Chandigarh won’t be an issue.

“They didn’t ask and we didn’t give. Neither the BCCI nor PCB said they would be staying at Chandigarh. If they want, they can get necessary endorsements made in India. It will not be an issue but will just involve some paperwork,” the source said.