LAHORE The British High Commission has refused visa to former Pakistan cricket team manager and renowned cricket organizer of the country Azhar Zaidi. Azhar Zaidi, who has served as manager Pakistan national, Pakistan A and U-19 teams many times, applied for five-year visit visa but the UK embassy refused him visa. Embarrassed Zaidi expressed his disappointment over the refusal saying it was too big a shock for him and his family. Zaidi, 63, informed that he had provided the embassy enough and genuine proofs of his sponsorship but was surprised to see the refusal. He said that Zamir Hyder, who is Director of world known brand Jeans West, London, has been sponsoring him and his family since 1988 and he has traveled to Britain around 20 times and visited about 30 countries without overstaying in any country. Prior to this, I have had many UK visas of five years and two years and never has this happened before, Zaidi, who has performed as Pakistan manager on dozens of tours to different countries, said. As far as my services for cricket are concerned, they are open to everyone both home and abroad. I also served the PCB on various key positions during the last 40 years, he added. Zaidi was surprised as to what could be the reasons of such an erratic decision by the visa authorities since at the age of 63, he is unlikely to seek asylum, get married or seek illegal immigration especially when he has already been travelling to Britain for last many decades. The visa authorities have of late denied visas to many top government functionaries and many top notch figures without any valid reason. This is time the British government reviews the implementation of its visa policy to avoid such shocking decisions. The British High Commission had also refused visas to World Cup winning Pakistan blind cricket team. The same blind team whitewashed England and set many records in a series played in UAE earlier this month. ICC Elite Panel umpire Aleem Dar and veteran all-rounder Abdul Razzaq have also expressed their surprise over Zaidis visa refusal and appealed to the British High Commission to review the case.