ODI World Cup 2023: Pakistan Team Issued Visa After Delay, Babar Azam-led Side Clear To Travel To India

Due to a delay in the issuance of visas, the Pakistan Cricket Board ( PCB ) had to alter their team-building plans this week. Instead of their intended stay in Dubai, the team is now set to depart for India late on Wednesday, in preparation for their first warm-up match against New Zealand in Hyderabad on Friday.

In response to the visa delay, the PCB sent a formal letter of complaint to the International Cricket Council (ICC). In the letter, a PCB spokesperson expressed their concerns, stating, "There has been an extraordinary delay in getting clearance and securing Indian visas for the Pakistan team for ICC World Cup . We have written to ICC raising our concerns about inequitable treatment towards Pakistan and reminding them of these obligations towards the World Cup."

The spokesperson went on to express disappointment over the situation, remarking, "It’s a matter of disappointment that Pakistan's team has to go through such uncertainty ahead of this major tournament. We have been reminding [the ICC] about their obligations for the past three years, and it has all come down to the last two days, with our first warm-up game scheduled on September 29."

Leading up to the upcoming World Cup, there has been significant drama between the two cricket boards. A high-level committee, comprising senior Pakistan government officials, ultimately cleared the trip to India for the World Cup.

Previously, the Board of Control for Cricket in India ( BCCI ) had declined to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup, citing security concerns. As a result, the tournament adopted a hybrid model, with key matches, including the final, being held in Colombo.

The ten-nation World Cup is set to kick off on October 5 in Ahmedabad, with the warm-up matches commencing this Friday. Notably, Pakistan has never managed to secure a victory against India in ODI World Cups .