Visa Delays Disrupt Pakistan’s Preparations for World Cup 2023

Pakistan’s journey to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 in India has encountered an unexpected hurdle as visa issues have disrupted their pre-tournament preparations. Amidst escalating political tensions between India and Pakistan, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) finds itself in a challenging situation, with the team being the only one among the nine yet to secure their visas for the World Cup.

Dubai Camp Cancellation

Initially, the PCB had planned a two-day camp in Dubai before flying to India for the global cricket extravaganza. However, due to unforeseen visa delays, Pakistan had to cancel their stay in Dubai. Instead, the team is now scheduled to depart directly from Lahore to Dubai on Wednesday. From there, they will proceed to Hyderabad, provided they receive their visas on time.

The PCB officials remain optimistic that the necessary visa approvals from India will be granted before the team’s departure for Hyderabad, where Pakistan is slated to play warm-up matches against New Zealand on September 29 and Australia on October 3 at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium.

A History of Visa Challenges

Visa delays between India and Pakistan are not new and are a testament to the longstanding political tension between the two nations. Travel between the countries has been severely restricted since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, leading to a halt in bilateral cricket ties.

Notably, India has not toured Pakistan for a bilateral series since 2006. The last time an Indian cricket team visited Pakistan was during the 2008 Asia Cup. This upcoming World Cup will mark Pakistan’s first visit to India since the 2016 T20 World Cup. For all members of Pakistan’s 15-man World Cup squad, except left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz, this will be their first trip to India.

Tension in Cricketing Relations

The recent schedule disputes surrounding the Asia Cup and the World Cup have further underscored the political complexities affecting cricketing relations between India and Pakistan. India declined to travel to Pakistan, the original hosts of the Asia Cup 2023, leading to the tournament adopting a hybrid model with matches in Sri Lanka.

The PCB had even threatened to boycott the ODI World Cup if India did not agree to participate in the Asia Cup. While the matter was eventually resolved through mutual understanding, Pakistan expressed concerns about playing the World Cup match against India in Ahmedabad.

The ICC, after much deliberation, moved the match, initially scheduled for October 15, forward by a day. This decision was prompted by the Gujarat Police’s inability to provide necessary security due to a Hindu festival’s date clash.

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