Waseem seeks diplomatic passport to avoid visa issues

KARACHI: Pakistan’s premier professional boxer and former World No1 Mohammad Waseem on Wednesday requested the federal government to issue him a diplomatic passport so that he could not face visa issues in future.

“Most of my fights have suffered because of visa issues. Foreign nations take too much time before issuing me visa. It is a laborious job and affects my training and performance,” Waseem told ‘The News’ from Quetta.

The former Asian Games bronze medallist said a diplomatic passport might resolve his pressing issue. “I demand federal government and the prime minister of Pakistan Imran Khan that I be issued a diplomatic passport as it will help me in my career,” the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games silver medallist said. “My company MTK Global is also very upset because of this,” said Waseem, who recently had to wait a long time for Kazakhstan’s visa which he needed for his fight that had been scheduled for March 28 there. However, the event was later cancelled due to fears of coronavirus.

Had the fight not been cancelled the Pakistani fighter could have faced issues as he did not get the required training because of his presence in Pakistan and lack of any quality coach. Earlier, when his March 6 fight in Dubai was announced Waseem’s passport was with the Spain embassy which took a lot of time to return it.

Waseem, working under England-based MTK Global, trains in its Glasgow gym. He was also upset over the cancellation of global sporting events due to coronavirus. “It’s really agonising but human health is more precious than sports,” Waseem said. “We should keep fighting against the virus and cooperate with the state machinery,” he said.

Waseem has been a two-time WBC world flyweight silver champion, having won the titles twice three years ago. He has played 11 bouts, of which he won ten. He only lost to South Africa’s Moruti Mthalane in Malaysia in 2018. Last year he played two fights and won both.