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After some delays, the Pakistan cricket team has received visas for their trip to India for the Cricket World Cup 2023 campaign. The quadrennial tournament's Pakistani players and support staff will receive their visas, on Tuesday. On September 27, Pakistan will depart for India through Dubai. The 1992 World Champions will travel to Hyderabad from Dubai two days before their first practice game.
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Earlier the Pakistan Cricket Board expressed grave concerns to the ICC on Monday regarding the national team's delayed departure for the World Cup in India due to visa complications. They claimed the nervous wait had already affected its readiness for the tournament. The PCB had even sent a letter to the ICC regarding the delay in the visa. Due to concerns around Indian visas, Pakistan's two-day team-bonding retreat in Dubai before their scheduled arrival in Hyderabad on September 27 was cancelled.
The Times of India reported that the PCB also complained that their reservations over the issuing of visas to players, team officials, supporters, and journalists for the World Cup in India have not been addressed for more than three years in the letter addressed to ICC CEO Geoff Allardice. It further stated that Pakistan will not put up with such unfair behaviour.
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The 35-member Pakistani contingent's travel tickets have been rebooked, according to PCB sources, now that the trip to Dubai has been cancelled. The crew will now depart for Hyderabad from Lahore in the early morning hours of September 27 and arrive in Hyderabad via Dubai in the late evening, subject to visa approval. In Hyderabad, the Babar Azam-led team plays two practice games, beginning on September 29 with the matchup against New Zealand. Australia will be the opponent for Pakistan's second practice match on October 3 in Hyderabad.
