The Indian government has defended its decision to issue a visa to former Pakistan cricketer Javed Miandad, saying he is not on India's "negative list". "He is a well-known cricketer. His visa application papers were in order and valid and that is why the government has decided to give him visa," Minister of State for Home R P N Singh said in Delhi yesterday.

Asked if Miandad is not on India's "negative list", Singh said, "No, nothing like that. He was given visa when his visa papers were found valid." The government's decision has been criticized by the BJP and Shiv Sena, which cited Miandad's family ties with fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.

Miandad's son Junaid is married to Mahrukh, the daughter of Dawood, who is wanted in India in connection with the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts case.