Karachi, Oct 26: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has requested the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to arrange for more visas for Pakistani cricket fans to see matches during their team’s tour of India starting November 1.

"We have asked the BCCI to issue ample number of visas because a lot of fans would want to go and see matches in India," said Zakir Khan, the PCB’s Director of Operations.

The reports coming from India say that the recent bombings in various parts of India have taken a toll on cricket with only 250 Pakistanis being allowed to come to watch the one-dayer in Mohali next month.

The visa figure allowed for Pakistani fans - by the Indian Home Ministry and the Ministry of External Affairs - is drastically truncated despite a request by the Punjab Cricket Association, which will organise the Mohali match, for 5,000 visas.

The Indian Home Ministry’s reluctance to issue more visas is being linked to the recent spate of bombings in Hyderabad, Ajmer and Ludhiana in which several people died.

Security agencies investigating the bombings have pointed to links with suspected bombers in Pakistan and Bangladesh, The News reported.

Zakir, however, hoped that the BCCI will intervene and ensure that Pakistani fans are not deprived the opportunity to watch their team in action on the tour of India.

The Pakistan team is scheduled to fly to New Delhi on November 1 where they play a warm-up game starting from November 2.

They meet India in a five match ODI series starting from November 5 in Guwahati.

The rest of the ODIs will be played in Mohali (Nov 8), Kanpur (Nov 11), Gwalior (Nov 15) and Jaipur (Nov 18).

The three Tests will be played in New Delhi, Kolkata and Bangalore. (ANI)