New Delhi: The Pakistan government has given
its national rugby team the go ahead to participate in the
Commonwealth test event to be held here from April 2-3.
Rugby India Vice-President Aga Hussain told PTI that the
Pakistan government has cleared its team's participation in
the two-day event. He said the Pakistan team will arrive here
on Thursday.
"The team will be arriving here on Thursday, may be in
the afternoon. I was in constant touch with Pakistan Rugby
Union president on this and he informed me their government
has cleared their participation. The players will get visas
tomorrow and they will be arriving in India on April 1,"
Hussain said.
"It's a very exciting development and we all are looking
forward to welcome them. It's been a long time since both
teams have played each other. It's a very positive
development for both Pakistan rugby players as well as we
organisers. We all very happy," Hussain said.
The Pakistani federation was waiting for their
government clearance as the Indian government had well in
advance given the team members visas to arrive and play here
in the event.
PRU secretary Fawzi Khwaja had earlier said that the
players were well prepared to leave even a day before the
start of the event.
India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Iran, Malaysia, Brunei,
Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are participating in the event to be
played at the Delhi University.
The teams have been divided into two pools and the top
two teams from each group will advance into the semi finals.
Pakistan play India in the opener.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, March 30, 2010, 23:12