The prolonged uncertainty surrounding Pakistan’s participation in the highly anticipated ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 has finally come to an end. An announcement by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday confirmed that India has issued visas to the Pakistan cricket team.
The confirmation from the ICC came after concerns were raised about the delay in the visa issuance process, which had been causing anxiety within the cricketing community. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had expressed its concerns to the ICC, pointing out that the visa delay was disrupting the team’s preparation for the prestigious event to be held across the border.
An ICC spokesperson, while not providing further details, confirmed to Reuters, “Visas have been issued to the Pakistan team.” PCB spokesperson Umar Farooq also stated that they had received instructions to collect their passports from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.
It’s worth noting that India and Pakistan have suspended bilateral cricket matches in the past due to strained political relations. They typically face each other only in multi-team events such as the World Cup and Asia Cup.
In a strongly worded statement, Farooq decried the “inequitable treatment” that the Pakistan team had faced, especially considering their imminent arrival in India on Wednesday. He remarked, “There has been an extraordinary delay in getting clearance and securing Indian visas for the Pakistan team for the ICC World Cup.” Farooq emphasized that they had conveyed their concerns to the ICC about the perceived bias against Pakistan and reminded them of their responsibilities concerning the World Cup. He expressed disappointment that the Pakistan team had to grapple with uncertainty ahead of such a major tournament.
Pakistan’s World Cup journey will kick off with two warm-up matches before their first official game against the Netherlands on October 6. Cricket enthusiasts worldwide are eagerly anticipating the October 14 showdown between arch-rivals India and Pakistan in Ahmedabad.
In a previous development, India had declined to tour Pakistan for the Asia Cup, opting to play their matches in Sri Lanka instead. The Asia Cup took place between August 30 and September 17.
Here is the Pakistan squad for the ICC World Cup 2023:
- Captain: Babar Azam
- Squad Members: 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.
Schedule of Pakistan’s Warm-Up Matches:
- 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 in Bengaluru (Day match)
- November 11 — vs England in Kolkata
Day matches will begin at 10:00 am Pakistan Standard Time (PST), while all other matches will be day-night fixtures starting at 01:30 pm (PST).
In the event that Pakistan qualifies for the semi-finals, those matches will be held in Kolkata. However, if India advances to the semi-finals and faces Pakistan, that match will also be played in Kolkata, promising an intense encounter for fans.
Cricket enthusiasts from both nations can now breathe a sigh of relief as the Pakistan cricket team prepares to embark on its journey to the World Cup, reigniting the excitement and anticipation for this prestigious event.
