The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) recorded their protest to the International Cricket Council (ICC) over the delay in Indian visas for the upcoming ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 which will begin in India on October 5.
Pakistan play New Zealand in a warm-up match in Hyderabad on September 29 but they are yet to receive visas. The ongoing drama has given birth to unnecessary tensions for the squad and the management who have already delayed their trip to Dubai.
The PCB sent a letter to ICC in which they raised their concerns and reminded the regulatory body about the Host-Member agreement.
“We have been discussing this issue for three years,” the letter stated. “No one paid attention to our concerns. And now the situation has gotten to the point where we are yet to receive visas.
“We are in a state of uncertainty due to ignorance of concerned authorities. We had to stay in Dubai for two days but due to this visa issue, we had to cancel that [trip].
“Whenever we contacted the concerned authority, we were told that the visas would be issued in 24 hours.
“And now, with every passing day, the uncertainty is increasing and it is worrying everyone.”
Earlier, it was reported that the Pakistan cricket squad is likely to get their Indian visas today ahead of their trip to the neighbouring country for ICC World Cup 2023.
The Indian Embassy in Pakistan is likely to get the No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Indian Interior Ministry today. After receiving NOC, the visas will be issued to the Pakistan team.
The ICC World Cup 2023 will take place in India with 10 teams fighting for the elusive title across 10 venues from October 5 to November 19, with the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad hosting the tournament opener and the final.
Pakistan squad for ICC World Cup 2023
Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, M Wasim Jnr, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Saud Shakeel, Salman Ali Agha.
Travelling reserves: Mohammad Haris, Abrar Ahmed, Zaman Khan
Schedule of Pakistan's warm-up matches:
September 29 — vs New Zealand in Hyderabad
October 3 — vs Australia in Hyderabad
Pakistan's schedule for the ICC World Cup 2023:
October 6 — vs Netherlands in Hyderabad
October 10 — vs Sri Lanka in Hyderabad
October 14 — vs India in Ahmedabad
October 20 — vs Australia in Bengaluru
October 23 — vs Afghanistan in Chennai
October 27 — vs South Africa in Chennai
October 31 — vs Bangladesh in Kolkata
November 4 — vs New Zealand Bengaluru (Day match)
November 11 — vs England in Kolkata
The day matches which will start at 10:00am Pakistan Standard Time (PST) while all other matches will be day-night fixtures starting at 01:30pm (PST).
If Pakistan qualify for the semi-finals, they will play in Kolkata.
If India qualify for the semi-finals, they will play in Mumbai unless playing against Pakistan, in which case they will play in Kolkata.
Sohail Imran Sohail Imran is a senior reporter for Geo News.
