Just a week before the much-awaited 2023 ODI World Cup begins in India, Indian visas have been issued to the Pakistani men’s cricket team, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed, hours after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) raised serious concerns, according to a report. It is worth noting that obtaining the visa came less than 48 hours before Pakistan’s scheduled travel to India in the early hours of September 27.
These concerns have come to light when the Pakistan men’s cricket team is scheduled to travel to Hyderabad in India for the 2023 ICC ODI World Cup. They will play their first warm-up match against New Zealand in Hyderabad on September 29.
An ICC spokesperson told the news agency: “Entry visas have been issued to Pakistan.” PTI.
The confirmation from the ICC came after the PCB wrote to ICC CEO Geoff Allardice on Monday over the visa delay along with a claim that the anxious wait had negatively impacted the team’s preparations for the 50-over tournament.
Pakistan was supposed to hold a two-day team bonding session in Dubai before their scheduled arrival in Hyderabad on September 27 but it was canceled due to uncertainty over the Indian visa.
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The Babar Azam-led team is playing two warm-up matches and several World Cup matches in Hyderabad starting with the practice match against New Zealand.
In the letter to Allardyce, the PCB also claimed that its concerns over the granting of visas to players, team officials, fans and journalists to attend the World Cup in India have not been addressed for more than three years. She also added that such unfair treatment of Pakistan would not be acceptable.
Pakistan last visited India for the T20 World Cup in 2016. The two arch-rivals only play each other in the Asia Cup and ICC tournaments due to tense relations between the two countries.
PCB sources informed PTI Flight tickets have been rebooked for about 35 members now after the Dubai flight was suspended. The team will now leave for Hyderabad from Lahore in the early hours of September 27 and reach Hyderabad via Dubai by night.
A source said: “We are less than four days away from the friendly match and the players are in a state of uncertainty. If the players have to experience a delay, one can only wonder what will happen to visa applications for fans and journalists.”
Visa applications from Pakistan require approval from three ministries – Home, Foreign Affairs and Sports.
Pakistan’s second friendly match will be against Australia on October 3 in Hyderabad as well.
They will remain in the city for their first two World Cup matches against the Netherlands and Sri Lanka on October 6 and 10 respectively, before traveling to Ahmedabad for the big match against hosts India on October 14.
Only two members of the current Pakistani team have toured India to play cricket – Muhammad Nawaz and Salman Agha.
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Updated: Sep 25, 2023, 09:33 PM IST
