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Pakistan's domestic T20 champions Faisalabad Wolves have been granted a visa to play in the qualifying rounds of the Champions League Twenty20 tournament, in India, later this month.
"The visa has already been issued. The passports would be handed over as and when they come to collect it at the Indian Embassy in Diplomatic Enclave," an official source said in Islamabad on Friday.
India had initially refused to grant a visa to the team following the ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) by Pakistan, which created tension between the two countries.
It was feared that that if the Faisalabad Wolves made their way up in the tournament, they would be playing at different cities across India and, hence, security could be a problem.
"As a matter of abundance precaution and caution in terms of safety and security, the government did not give green signal for the cricket team's visit," government sources had said in New Delhi.
Faisalabad, who are led by Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq, have been drawn in the qualifying rounds of the Champions League T20, where they will face India's Sunrisers Hyderabad, Kandurata Maroons of Sri Lanka and Kiwi side Otago Volts in Mohali. The top two teams make it to the main round of the tournament.
Sialkot Stallions, champions of Pakistan's domestic league last year, had taken part in the qualifying round of the CLT20, which was held in South Africa last year.
- Schedule: Champions League T20 2013
Image: Misbah-ul-Haq