The PCB has informed the ICC about the issue that has disrupted their World Cup plans and is now awaiting a response from the ICC. The Pakistan team, led by Babar Azam, had plans to convene in Dubai for a team-bonding camp before their journey to Hyderabad for the 2023 ODI World Cup in India.
Despite having reportedly submitted their passports to the Indian Embassy in Pakistan after returning from the Asia Cup in Colombo last week, they are the sole participating country that has not received their Indian travel visas.
According to a recent report, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) communicated this matter to the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Friday and is currently waiting for a response from the ICC regarding this issue, which has caused disruptions in their World Cup preparations.
The Pakistan World Cup squad was scheduled to briefly stop in Dubai before heading to Hyderabad
Originally, the Pakistan World Cup squad had plans to make a brief stop in Dubai next week before heading to Hyderabad, where they were set to have their first warm-up match against New Zealand on September 29.
However, due to the visa delay, the team now needs to travel directly from Lahore to Dubai on Wednesday and proceed to Hyderabad without the intended stopover. This change is in response to the delay in visa processing.
The PCB took action by addressing the matter with the ICC, and they are anticipating a favorable response from the governing body. This was reported by the New Indian Express on Saturday evening.
“The passports were submitted as soon as the team returned home from the Asia Cup held in Sri Lanka. We have yet not received the visas. The ICC has been apprised of the issue as this has made the PCB to change its plan of having a two-day team bonding camp in Dubai,” a PCB official in the know of developments told The New Indian Express.
The visa problem highlights the ongoing political tensions between India and Pakistan, as the 1992 ODI World Cup champions prepare to visit their neighboring nation.
It’s worth noting that neither side has engaged in a bilateral series since 2012, nor have they played at a neutral venue. Pakistan’s most recent trip to India was for the 2016 T20 World Cup.
Pakistan’s involvement in the World Cup generated significant controversy and was the subject of extensive discussions at the government level due to the political situation and the events surrounding the 2023 Asia Cup.
Pakistan was the sole host for the continental event, but India was hesitant to send their team led by Rohit Sharma to Pakistan.
This led to the adoption of a hybrid model in which Sri Lanka was selected as the second host for the Asia Cup. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had proposed a similar arrangement for the World Cup.
The discussions reached a point where they even threatened to withdraw from the tournament. However, they received clearance from their government to travel to India.
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