PCB chief detained for two hours at Kolkata airport

Kolkata, May 10
Pakistan cricket board president Shahryar Khan was detained at the airport here for about a couple of hours on Saturday night by immigration department officials for flouting visa rules while entering India.

According to sources, Khan had flown into the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport here from Dhaka around 9.30 p.m.

The officials stopped Khan at the airport as Pakistani nationals are not allowed to enter India through Kolkata.

However, following intervention by Union Minister Arun Jaitley, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and the Board of Control for Cricket in India president Jagmohan Dalmiya, the home ministry waived the rules for Khan.

His situation was viewed as a "special" and "one time" case, thereby enabling him to enter Kolkata.

Khan is slated to meet Dalmiya to discuss the revival of bilateral cricketing ties.

"There was some delay due to immigration issues," Khan said, while leaving the airport for the city at 11.30 p.m.