Just days before the commencement of the ICC Men’s World Cup 2023 in India, sources have confirmed that the Pakistani cricket squad is expected to finally obtain their visas to travel to their neighboring country. This announcement comes after a prolonged visa delay that had raised concerns over the team’s participation in the tournament.
Initially, the Pakistani cricket team had faced obstacles in obtaining their Indian visas, prompting the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to notify the International Cricket Council (ICC) of the issue. Subsequently, the ICC directed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to expedite the visa issuance process for the Pakistani squad.
Sources have revealed that the Indian embassy in Pakistan is poised to receive a non-objection certificate from India’s Ministry of Home Affairs later today. Once obtained, the embassy will immediately issue the long-awaited visas to the Pakistani players and support staff.
This delay in visa issuance has been particularly frustrating for Pakistan, as they are the sole team out of the nine participating nations yet to secure their travel documents, as reported by ESPNcricinfo.
According to sources, the Pakistani national squad is scheduled to travel from Dubai to Hyderabad, India, where they will face New Zealand in a warm-up match on September 29.
Notably, diplomatic tensions between the governments of Pakistan and India have historically made travel between the two countries a complex and sensitive matter for players.
The upcoming World Cup schedule for Pakistan includes several high-stakes matches:
- October 6: Pakistan vs. Netherlands in Hyderabad
- October 10: Pakistan vs. Sri Lanka in Hyderabad
- October 14: Pakistan vs. India in Ahmedabad
- October 20: Pakistan vs. Australia in Bengaluru
- October 23: Pakistan vs. Afghanistan in Chennai
- October 27: Pakistan vs. South Africa in Chennai
- October 31: Pakistan vs. Bangladesh in Kolkata
- November 4: Pakistan vs. New Zealand in Bengaluru (Day match)
- November 11: Pakistan vs. England in Kolkata
Day matches will commence at 10 am Pakistan Standard Time (PST), while all other fixtures will be day-night matches starting at 1:30 pm PST.
If Pakistan secures a spot in the semi-finals, the team will play in Kolkata. However, if India also reaches the semi-finals and faces Pakistan, the match will take place in Kolkata.
The Pakistani squad, led by captain Babar Azam, boasts a mix of experienced players and promising talents. The team includes Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, and Shaheen Shah Afridi, among others.
In addition to the primary squad, Pakistan has named Mohammad Haris, Zaman Khan, and Abrar Ahmed as reserves for the tournament. The team will be looking to make a strong impact and potentially clinch their second ICC Men’s World Cup title.
