2023 ODI World Cup: Pakistan Cricket Team Secures Visas for India
In a significant development, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced that the Pakistani cricket team has finally been granted visas for the highly anticipated 2023 ODI World Cup, set to kick off in India on October 5. This news comes after weeks of uncertainty and concerns expressed by the PCB regarding visa issues.
A PCB source revealed that approximately 34 visas have been cleared, bringing immense relief to the cricketing fraternity in Pakistan. The entire process of obtaining visas had been protracted, leading to last-minute anxieties for the team. “One of our people has just left to collect the passports in Islamabad. It was a long process, and we should have gotten our visas earlier. The last-minute hustle is something that could have been avoided,” the source expressed.
The PCB’s move to write a letter to the International Cricket Council (ICC) proved instrumental in resolving the visa impasse. The letter highlighted concerns about the breach of hosting rights and served as a catalyst for expediting the visa clearance process. The breakthrough finally arrived around 7:30 PM Pakistan time, with the final confirmation that the Pakistan cricket team would indeed travel to India.
To make up for lost time, Pakistan will now take an early morning flight from Lahore and land in Hyderabad on September 27. Unfortunately, the visa delay has disrupted the team’s preparations for the World Cup. As a result, the Babar Azam-led side will miss the originally scheduled training session in Dubai.
The team had initially planned a two-day training camp in Dubai before their warm-up game against New Zealand on September 29 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. Despite the setbacks, the PCB remains optimistic, with a source stating, “We hope this doesn’t affect the players and the preparations, as there has been a lot of trouble. We are just happy now that the visas have been cleared. Looking forward to a successful World Cup.”
The granting of visas brings a sigh of relief not only to the Pakistani cricket team but also to cricket enthusiasts eagerly awaiting the clash of titans in the 2023 ODI World Cup. With the visa hurdles now behind them, Pakistan can focus on giving their best performance on the cricketing world’s grandest stage.