The Pakistan cricket team has received Indian visas for the upcoming ODI World Cup, as confirmed by the International Cricket Council (ICC). This decision came after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) expressed serious concerns to the ICC regarding the delay in the national teams travel to Hyderabad.The visa approvals were received within 48 hours before Pakistans scheduled departure to India on September 27, with their first warm-up match against New Zealand set for September 29. An ICC spokesperson confirmed, “Visas have been issued to Pakistan.”PCB in dilemmaHowever, there was still some confusion within the Pakistan camp regarding the visa permission. PCB spokesperson Umar Farooq stated to PTI, “We have not received a call from the Indian High Commission yet regarding visa clearance. One of our team members is stationed there.”The confirmation from the ICC followed the PCBs letter to ICC CEO Geoff Allardice on Monday, expressing concerns about the visa delay and its adverse impact on the teams World Cup preparation. Pakistan had planned a two-day team bonding session in Dubai before their scheduled arrival in Hyderabad on September 27, but it was canceled due to uncertainty about Indian visas.Pakistans play scheduleThe team, led by Babar Azam, is scheduled to play two warm-up matches and two World Cup matches in Hyderabad. The letter to Geoff Allardice shows concerns over the visa process for players, team officials, fans, and journalists traveling to India for ICC events, which have gone unaddressed for more than three years. The PCB emphasized that such unequal treatment of Pakistan would not be acceptable.ICC has confirmed the Indian government has approved the Visas for the Pakistan team travelling for the World Cup 2023. pic.twitter.com/2gh9g8Lnni— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) September 25, 2023 Farooq stated, “There have been extraordinary delays in obtaining clearance and securing Indian visas for the Pakistan team for the ICC World Cup. We have written to the ICC, raising our concerns about the inequitable treatment of Pakistan and reminding them of their obligations towards the World Cup.”Pakistans last visit to India for cricket was during the T20 World Cup in 2016, as the two arch-rivals usually face each other in ICC tournaments and Asia Cup only due to tense bilateral relations.PCB sources revealed that flight tickets for approximately 35 members have been rebooked following the cancellation of the Dubai trip. The team will now depart for Hyderabad from Lahore in the early morning of September 27, reaching Hyderabad via Dubai that night.With the warm-up game approaching in less than four days, players are facing uncertainty, and there are concerns about the visa applications of fans and journalists.Pakistans second warm-up match will be against mighty Australia on October 3, in Hyderabad. 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 heading to Ahmedabad for their highly anticipated clash against hosts India on October 14. Among the current Pakistan squad, only Mohammad Nawaz and Salman Agha from the current squad have toured India for cricket.
