Former Pakistan captain Miandad, who was to watch the third and final ODI in Delhi, cancelled his visit to avoid a controversy, a PCB official said on condition of anonymity.

The official said the PCB did not want the focus to move away from cricket to other matters.

Ever since news came out that Miandad, whose son Junaid married the fugitive Mumbai don's daughter Mahrukh in Dubai in 2009, a controversy broke out in India over government giving him visa for the visit.

The Indian government, however, justified the decision saying Miandad was not on the 'negative list' of those not to be given visas.

BJP and Shiv Sena had yesterday lashed out at the Government for granting visa to Miandad, asking how allowing a person related to Ibrahim would help improve bilateral ties.

External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid today said there are four categories of people who have been given visas.

"People who have return ticket and want to watch the match. People who are players. People who are on (Pakistan Cricket) Board," he said.

Khurshid had yesterday said, "It's a decision that has been taken by the Home Ministry. And I am sure they would have taken inputs from all concerned agencies and from our mission in Pakistan. I am sure they would have followed all procedures."

Minister of State for Home R P N Singh had said, "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."

There had been reports before a series in 2005 that a request for a visa by the batting great was turned down by the Indian government.

Visa to Javed Miandad doesn't change Dawood Ibrahim's status for India: govt

The government today made it clear that the issuance of visa to former Pakistani cricketer Javed Miandad, a relative of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, did not reflect any change in status of the Mumbai serial bomb blasts case mastermind as far as India is concerned.

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.

"There has not been any change as far as Dawood Ibrahim is concerned. His position remains exactly the same," a top government source said.

The remarks came amidst criticism by BJP and Shiv Sena over the issuance of visa to Miandad.

The source said Miandad, whose son married the fugitive terrorist's daughter, was not on India's negative list and added that he was given a visa in April, 2011 also.

However, he did not come last time. The former Pakistani captain has been granted an Indian visa that will allow him to watch the final one-dayer of the ongoing limited-over cricket series between the two countries in New Delhi on January 6.

However, Miandad cancelled his visit this time also.

According to Indian security agencies, Dawood is believed to be be staying in Karachi in Pakistan where he had fled to after the serial bomb blasts.