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In a dramatic turn of events, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially confirmed the issuance of visas to Pakistan’s national cricket squad, enabling their much-anticipated journey to India for the upcoming 50-overs World Cup 2023. This crucial announcement follows a protracted visa delay by Indian authorities, a situation that had cast significant doubts over Pakistan’s participation in this prestigious sporting event.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had tirelessly pursued resolution, lodging complaints with the ICC to address the delays, which had created unexpected disruptions in the team’s preparations for the monumental tournament taking place in their neighboring country.
According to an ICC spokesperson, “Visas have been issued to the Pakistan team,” putting an end to the mounting concerns surrounding this issue. Additionally, PCB spokesperson Umar Farooq confirmed that the team has been instructed to collect their passports from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.
The Indian High Commission (IHC) has now communicated the progress to the PCB, ensuring that the team will receive their visas and associated documents by 11 a.m. Pakistan Standard Time tomorrow.
In light of these developments, the Pakistan cricket team is set to depart for India on Wednesday morning, with their journey taking them through Dubai before they reach their destination in Hyderabad. The unforeseen visa delay had previously forced the PCB to postpone their pre-World Cup team bonding trip to Dubai, illustrating the gravity of the situation.
In a strongly worded letter to the ICC, the PCB raised its concerns and underscored the importance of adhering to the Host-Member agreement. The letter lamented, “We have been discussing this issue for three years,” emphasizing the lack of attention paid to their concerns. The mounting uncertainty caused by the visa delays forced the team to stay in Dubai for two additional days, leading to the cancellation of their planned trip.
The PCB’s persistent efforts to seek clarity from the concerned authorities had repeatedly been met with assurances of visas being issued within 24 hours, only to leave them in a state of increasing uncertainty.
As Pakistan gears up for the World Cup, their schedule includes two warm-up matches in Hyderabad – the first against New Zealand on September 29 and the second against Australia on October 3. The official World Cup campaign for the Men in Green commences on October 6 with a match against the Netherlands, followed by a clash with Sri Lanka on October 10, both to be held at the same venue.
The squad selected for the ICC World Cup 2023, led by captain Babar Azam, includes a blend of seasoned players and rising talents, aiming to make their mark on the global stage.