LAHORE: The Pakistan cricket team’s preparations for the World Cup in India have been thrown into uncertainty as the squad waits on visas.
The World Cup starts on October 5, with the 10 teams ramping up their preparations for the tournament. However, all teams due to compete have had their visas issued apart from Pakistan.
The Pakistan Cricket Board is still waiting for a response for visas from the Indian Embassy in Pakistan and this is “hampering” the side’s preparations for the tournament.
The Pakistan squad was supposed to reach Hyderabad via Dubai where a two-day team bonding exercise was planned before travelling to India on September 27. The Babar Azam-led side is scheduled to play its first warm-up game against New Zealand on September 29.
The team has canceled the trip to Dubai as players await their visas from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. The PCB has raised the matter with the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Pakistan last visited India for the T20 World Cup in 2016. A total of 33 members of the Pakistan contingent, including players, three traveling reserves and team officials, are awaiting their visas.
According to Indian media reports, the visas are delayed due to the vetting process as clearances are issued from three ministries – home, external affairs and sports – for Pakistani passport holders.
The PCB had sent its officials to Islamabad for passport collection but the visas are still in process. If the visas come through, the team will reach Hyderabad on September 27 via Dubai.
Pakistan are due to play two warm-up games – against New Zealand on September 29 and Australia on October 3 – in Hyderabad before their opening match of the tournament on October 6 against the Netherlands at the same venue.
Pakistan’s participation in the World Cup has been subject to bargaining due to the Asia Cup. The Asia Cup was due to be held in Pakistan but only four matches were played after India refused to travel. The majority of the tournament was played in Sri Lanka in a hybrid model.
India had threatened to withdraw from the Asia Cup before the hybrid model was proposed. The PCB said earlier this year that it would consider its participation in the World Cup if India did not play in the Asia Cup.
