The Indian High Commission has sought passports and documents of Pakistani journalists for covering the Men’s 50-over World Cup, which is being hosted by the neighbouring country.

Aaj News correspondent Aqeel Ahmed confirmed that the Indian High Commission has approached him and other sports journalists and asked them to arrive at the High Commission in Islamabad on Wednesday morning where they would be issued visas.

When asked, officials told reporters that they could not tell any policy related to the form available on the website needed to be filled. But they asked journalists to arrive at the High Commission or send the required documents via courier.

The development comes a day after Pakistan Cricket Board Interim Management Committee head Zaka Ashraf approached Foreign Secretary Syrus Sajjad Qazi and raised concerns over the delay in the issuance of visas for Pakistani fans and journalists willing to visit India for the World Cup.

Sports journalists in Pakistan had urged Pakistani media to boycott the World Cup amid reports that the International Cricket Council would give them an opportunity to ask questions through WhatsApp, instead of expediting the visa issuance process for Pakistani journalists.

The reaction came after Indian media reported that the ICC has come up with a solution to allow Pakistani journalists to participate in the media conferences through WhatsApp as they wait for India to give them the green light for the World Cup coverage.

Earlier, the ICC had given Pakistan a quota of 50 journalists but there were 206 applicants from the country.

Last week, an ICC spokesperson told Reuters that India was working hard on the matter with the council’s support.

Meanwhile, the PCB has repeatedly expressed displeasure over the uncertainty surrounding the visas.