IND vs PAK: Pakistan Team Denied Visas for ICC World Cup 2023: In a very concerning development for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), their player visas have been delayed for the forthcoming ICC World Cup 2023 in India, starting October 5, resulting in Pakistan’s pre-tour Dubai trip cancellation.
Notably, Pakistan was set to leave for Dubai, early next week, for a couple of days bonding tour. Following the tour, the team would take a flight to Hyderabad for their first warm-up fixture against New Zealand at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on September 29. The trip to Dubai, as of now, stands canceled.
Pakistan will now fly to Dubai after they get their Visa approvals, and then straight-away board a flight to Hyderabad for their warm-up game. Their postponed flight from Lahore to Dubai is scheduled for early Wednesday, said the reports.
Seeing the delay in the visa application, an official referred to the situation as “alarming”, however, the team is likely to get their visas approved right on time.
The delay in the visa process could be linked to the strained relations between the two countries due to cross-border terrorism and infiltration from Pakistan.
It’s important to note that Pakistan is the only team to have pending visa approvals for the ICC World Cup 2023, among the nine teams participating, besides India.
IND vs PAK on October 14 during ICC World Cup 2023
Pakistan’s warm-up game against New Zealand in Hyderabad is set to be held behind closed doors after the security forces expressed challenges in raising the protection of the stadium for the fixture as two major festivals coincided on that given day. The Team’s other warm-up fixture is scheduled to be held against Australia on October 3 at the same venue in Hyderabad.
Meanwhile, Pakistan will kickstart their ICC World Cup 2023 campaign on October 6 against the Netherlands. The most-anticipated IND vs PAK fixture is slated to be held on October 14 at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Pakistan has suffered a couple of blows ahead of their World Cup 2023 run. Young pacer Naseem Shah has been ruled out of the tournament after sustaining an injury to his right shoulder during the Asia Cup 2023. Hasan Ali has been named to replace Naseem Shah.
Below is Pakistan’s World Cup 2023 Squad:
Squad: Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Wasim
For More, Check The Official Site: ICC