Visa delay puts Pakistan's ODI World Cup 2023 plans in jeopardy
Pakistan is the only team out of nine not to have their visas yet.
Last Updated: 03.03 PM, Sep 23, 2023
Pakistan, who is getting ready for the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 is facing a setback and won't be able to have a training camp in Dubai due to their troubles of getting visas to travel to India for the tournament. They're the only team out of nine not to have their visas yet.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) originally planned to fly to Dubai on Monday, stay a couple of days, and then head to Hyderabad, India, for their first World Cup warm-up matches. Now, they're flying from Lahore to Dubai on Wednesday and hoping to get their visas in time to continue on to Hyderabad. PCB officials are confident they'll get the visas.
This visa problem highlights the ongoing political tensions between India and Pakistan, which have limited travel between the two countries since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
Cricket between India and Pakistan has also been affected, with very few matches played between them. The last time an Indian cricket team visited Pakistan was in 2008. This will be Pakistan's first trip to India since the 2016 T20 World Cup. Only one player in their squad has been to India before, the rest will be visiting for the first time.
Pakistan World Cup Squad:
On Friday, Pakistan made a significant change to their World Cup squad by calling up experienced fast bowler Hasan Ali to replace the injured Naseem Shah. The 29-year-old was named the Player of the Tournament when Pakistan triumphed in the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017. However, he lost his spot in the team as Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, and Shaheen Shah Afridi became the primary pace bowlers.
Chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq stated that Hasan was the most suitable choice to fill Naseem's spot in the 15-member squad for the World Cup, which is set to begin on October 5 in India. Pakistan's first match in the tournament will be against the Netherlands on October 6.
Squad: Babar Azam (captain), Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Saud Shakeel, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim
Travelling reserves: Zaman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Haris