LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday recorded its protest by writing a letter to the International Cricket Council (ICC) over a delay in the issuance of Indian visas to participate in the ICC World Cup 2023.
According to the details, the PCB sent a stern letter to the cricket governing body and raised concerns over the ongoing visa debacle and reminded the regulatory body about the Host-Member agreement.
“We have been discussing this issue for three years. No one paid attention to our concerns. And now the situation has gotten to the point where we are yet to receive visas,” the letter stated.
“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.”
For the unversed, the Pakistan Men’s team will take on New Zealand on September 29 in their first warm-up fixture of the ICC World Cup 2023 but the Babar Azam-led side is yet to receive Indian visas to participate in the mega event.
According to the details, India subjected visa issuance to Pakistani players and officials with security clearance.
Consequently, Pakistan’s pre-World Cup team bonding trip to Dubai has also been cancelled due to visas delay.
Pakistan’s squad for the World Cup was due to leave for Dubai early next week and stay for a couple of days before flying to Hyderabad, where they are scheduled to take on New Zealand.
However, the Pakistan contingent is now supposed to depart from Lahore to Dubai early next Wednesday and then travel to Hyderabad.
Details further suggested that Pakistan are only one still awaiting visas out of the nine sides travelling to India for the World Cup.
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
Pakistan’s warm-up matches schedule:
- 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 will start at 10:00 am Pakistan Standard Time (PST) while all other matches will be day-night fixtures starting at 01:30 pm (PST).
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