Bilawal Bhatti travels to UAE on expired visa
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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan fast bowler Bilawal Bhatti was waylaid in Dubai on Thursday after landing in the United Arab Emirates with an expired visa.
The Pakistan Cricket Board says in a statement it has made arrangements for Bhatti to stay at a hotel inside Dubai airport and has applied for a new visa. The board is hopeful the issue will be resolved within 24 hours and Bhatti can join the team.
The board says Bhatti “inadvertently used his UAE visa to enter Dubai on his way back to Pakistan from South Africa” on Tuesday.
Bhatti didn’t inform the PCB, and was caught out on the team’s return to Dubai.
He made his Pakistan debut during the short limited-overs tour of South Africa last month, playing both Twenty20s and all three one-day internationals, where Pakistan beat the Proteas in an ODI series for the first time.
Pakistan plays a Twenty20 against Afghanistan on Sunday in Sharjah before it hosts Sri Lanka on a 10-match tour from next Wednesday.
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Comments (20) Closed
Dec 05, 2013 06:32pm
Such a stupid thing I never heard in my life. Actually, most of our present cricketers are made of street guys and therefore they are illiterate. One can expect more stupidity from them in future.Appears, team manager is also deaf and dumb.if he has some sort of degree....ye kaheen jali to naheen. Gone are those ....jab yeh pareh linkoh ka game tha.So please be aware of this dream team.
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Dec 05, 2013 07:41pm
What a shame? It also proves how efficient, professional and outstanding is the management structure of PCB?
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Dec 05, 2013 07:45pm
This is not the first time such incidence happened suggesting it is time for management change.
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Dec 05, 2013 08:03pm
Wonder Airline doesn't check expiry of visa before issuing the boarding pass? On other end is Bhatti not aware basic ethics of traveling? If that's the case PCB needs to give training on that as well.
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Dec 05, 2013 08:23pm
Did someone told team management what their duties are?
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Dec 05, 2013 08:44pm
He has shown great potential so far. He bowls around 90 mph, and he obviously has the ability to bat as well. Pakistan desperately needs an all rounder. And I really hope he is able to fill that need.
Ali Khan
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Dec 05, 2013 09:28pm
He must have a visa which is not expired (date) but the visa became invalid as soon as he entered in UAE on that visa on his way back from South Africa, he should have just read on the Visa written quite prminently "single entry visa". UAE issue only single entry visit visas, you can not enter on it twice. :)
People blaming all PCB should know the rules first, how can PCB know that he has already used that visa. By the Way how come airline boarded him, they can figure out from the visa that it has been used.
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Dec 05, 2013 10:18pm
Sir,
Common sense is not that common in our cricketers. What a shameless and pathetic ambassadors of Pakistan.
Regards,
Hyder
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Dec 05, 2013 11:00pm
Shame on PCB for not taking care of its players. This is completely the PCB's responsibility to make sure that all players have valid visas. What were they thinking.
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Dec 05, 2013 11:18pm
Sound familiar because this is the 'way of life' for Pakistanis, including the Administration that is responsible for managing the affairs of sportsmen. Such deviation from responsible action on the part of an individual, let alone a national figure, is reprehensible and draws nothing but rebuke from followers of the game worldwide. Best of luck, Bilawal, and, remember: Do not take this to heart and let it not affect your performances on-field in the UAE.
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Dec 06, 2013 12:04am
Alright guys, take it easy.. True, the pcb should take better care but no need to get carried away.
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Dec 06, 2013 03:52am
Nothing new. What else can we expect from PCB and our politicians other than bringing bad name for the country every chance they get.
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Dec 06, 2013 04:15am
Keep the passports of all test/odi/Twenty /20 match players under custody of PCB management.
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Dec 06, 2013 08:46am
How come no one checks passports of Players from PCB Admin before flying out?
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Dec 06, 2013 11:09am
It is not only disgusting but utterly shameful to have this type of news in the media. How stupid is Sharjeel, and more so the good-for-nothing Manager! All they are interested in is the money they get! The authorities must punish both with hefty fines. The sportsmen bring enough bad name for Pakistan; but it seems that they are bent upon proving that they are just not smart sportsmen, but completely idiots also! By the way, don't the authorities at departure airport check for proper visa for the country one is going to? Well those are also Pakistanis, sorry I forgot!
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Dec 06, 2013 01:21pm
was team management sleeping? Poor team management
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Dec 06, 2013 01:24pm
If UAE is our second home ground how come he got single entry visa.players should have sports visa for a year or so. PCB should look into it.
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Dec 06, 2013 02:33pm
Who is ready to wait for a new visa and risk his place in the team? We all know to get selected in the Pakistani squad is no easy task when the selectors are always looking for one excuse or the other to throw you out and accommodate somebody of their liking. Under such conditions, it makes perfect sense to fly with or without a valid visa.
This 'street guys' and 'illiterate' argument is not only incorrect, but plain elitist and offensive.
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Dec 07, 2013 03:52am
I've stayed at that hotel in the Dubai terminal during a long layover, it was tooooo expensive!
PCB might want to hire another bureaucrat to verify Visa's before the players leave for a trip, it's not like they can't afford it.
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Dec 07, 2013 12:39pm
OMG so many comments, I don't see any reason. It's not a big deal.
In my opinion Immigration officer at Islamabad Airport checked his passport
and miss read his name, officer thought he is Bilaval Bhutto, so he let him go.
It's ok. He is hero for Pakistani people. Please think positive.Thanks.
God Bless Pakistan , and people of Pakistan.
Sincerely,
Ashraf Mirza (USA) ashwmirza@yahoo.com
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