New Delhi: Pakistan’s preparations for the 2023 World Cup have encountered a significant setback as they’ve been compelled to abandon their plans for a two-day training camp in Dubai before their journey to India due to visa complications.
As of now, Pakistan remains the only team among the nine participating nations to have not received their visas for the World Cup in India, according to reports from ESPNCricinfo. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had originally arranged for the team to depart for Dubai on Monday, with plans to stay for two days before catching a late Wednesday flight to Hyderabad, where they are scheduled to play two warm-up matches against New Zealand on September 29 and Australia on October 3 at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium. These matches precede the commencement of the main tournament two days later.
The visa-related hurdles have led to the cancellation of the Dubai stay. The team is now set to travel from Lahore to Dubai on Wednesday, and they will then fly to Hyderabad from Dubai, contingent on timely visa approvals. PCB officials remain optimistic that the necessary visas for Pakistan’s cricket squad and support staff will be granted by India before their departure for Hyderabad.
These visa delays underscore the longstanding political tension between India and Pakistan, resulting in restricted travel between the two countries since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, which also halted bilateral cricketing relations. Since that unfortunate incident, only one bilateral cricket series between India and Pakistan occurred in 2012-13 when Pakistan toured India for a brief white-ball series.
Notably, India has not visited Pakistan for a bilateral cricket series since 2006, and the last time an Indian cricket team traveled to Pakistan was during the 2008 Asia Cup.
This impending visit to India for the 2023 World Cup marks Pakistan’s first since the 2016 T20 World Cup. With the exception of left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz, who was part of that squad, this trip to India will be the first for all other members of Pakistan’s 15-man World Cup squad.
The scheduling disputes leading up to the Asia Cup and the World Cup have underscored the political complexity between the two neighboring nations. India initially declined to visit Pakistan, the original hosts of the Asia Cup 2023, resulting in a hybrid tournament format, with all of India’s matches, including the final, taking place in Sri Lanka. The PCB even threatened to boycott the ODI World Cup if India did not participate in the Asia Cup in Pakistan.
After reaching a mutual understanding, the PCB then expressed reservations about playing their World Cup match against India in Ahmedabad. Although the ICC initially disregarded the request, they were ultimately compelled to move the match, originally scheduled for October 15, ahead by a day due to the Gujarat Police’s inability to ensure necessary security arrangements for the high-profile match, which coincided with a Hindu festival.
In other developments, Pakistan has called up experienced paceman Hasan Ali to join their World Cup squad, replacing the injured Naseem Shah. Hasan Ali, aged 29, was named Player of the Tournament when Pakistan clinched the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017. He lost his place in the squad due to the emergence of pacers Naseem, Haris Rauf, and Shaheen Shah Afridi as the primary pace attack. Pakistan’s Chief Selector Inzamam-ul-Haq affirmed that Hasan was the ideal choice to replace Naseem in the 15-man squad for the upcoming World Cup, commencing on October 5 in India. Pakistan’s campaign kicks off against the Netherlands on October 6.
Pakistan World Cup 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
