SA to clear visas for Bangladesh team

Paul Martin Cainer in Johannesburg

South African government officials have been ordered to avoid any international incident over visas for the historic first visit to the country of the world's most recent Test-playing nation, Bangladesh.

"We will not allow technicalities to interfere in a cricket tour, especially the first from a country with which we have very friendly relations," a senior official told rediff.com.

The officials will issue the necessary visas soon after the team arrives in Nairobi for the ICC Knock-out Tournament, starting on October 3.

Earlier, the alarm had been sounded by Syed Ashraful Huq, the Bangladesh Cricket Board's general secretary. He had told a news agency: "In all probability the trip will be cancelled as we now have multiple problems after not getting visas for the team in New Delhi."

Huq said the South African embassy had informed the BCB that clearance had not been received from their Home Affairs ministry. But the South African mission in New Delhi said the delay in visas was only because there was "not enough time to process them in New Delhi and visa applications have already been forwarded to Pretoria and will be approved".

Ironically, the tour organisers are not too confident that the fledgling cricket nation will join their big brothers in the semi-final or final. These will take place between October 10 and October 15 in Nairobi, while Bangladesh are due to play a four-day match beginning October 12 against South Africa's Griqualand West. Later they will have a day-nighter and two one-dayers with the South African 'A' team between October 18 and 22.

Paul Martin Cainer is CEO of Live Africa News Network, and writes regularly for rediff.com

Mail Cricket Editor