Dean Jones rectifies visa problems, arrives in Pakistan

The commentator and former Australia batsman, hired as a coach of one of the teams to participate in the upcoming Pakistan Super League, was barred from entering the country due to incorrect visa on Saturday. He made the necessary changes and arrived next day.

Published : Dec 20, 2015 23:55 IST , Lahore

Dean Jones is recruited as the head coach of Islamabad United.
Dean Jones is recruited as the head coach of Islamabad United.
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Dean Jones is recruited as the head coach of Islamabad United.

Former Australian batsman Dean Jones finally arrived in Pakistan on Sunday night to take over as coach of a team in the new Twenty20 league after landing earlier without a valid visa, officials said. Jones arrived from Dubai Saturday night but was refused entry because he had no valid visa for Pakistan and returned to the emirate.

"Jones has arrived at Lahore via a flight from Dubai," an immigration official at Lahore airport, said. "This time his visa and other travel documents were complete," he said.

Last week the 54-year-old was hired as the head coach of Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). The first edition of the PSL Twenty20 league will be held in Dubai and Sharjah from February 4. Five teams from Karachi, Islamabad, Quetta, Lahore and Peshawar will compete in the league, designed on the lines of the Indian Premier League and Australia's Big Bash.

PSL organisers confirmed Jones's situation after he was intially rejected by authorities, saying they hoped he would be able to return later Sunday so he could attend the players' draft in Lahore later this week.

After the visa controversy erupted over the weekend, Jones tweeted that the paperwork for his Pakistan visa had been incomplete due to a recent change in policy.

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