New Delhi, 25 September, 2023(GNP): The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed that visas have been issued to the Pakistan cricket team, allowing them to participate in the upcoming 50-overs World Cup in India.
This decision comes in response to complaints lodged by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) regarding visa delays that had adversely affected the team’s preparations for the tournament.
PCB spokesperson Umar Farooq stated that they have been instructed to collect their passports from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, signaling that the visa issue has been resolved.
India and Pakistan have suspended bilateral cricket matches due to political tensions between the two countries. The Both the teams only compete against each other in multilateral events like the World Cup and Asia Cup.
Farooq expressed disappointment over the “extraordinary delay” in securing Indian visas for the Pakistan team. He raised concerns about the inequitable treatment and reminded the ICC of its obligations regarding the World Cup.
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Pakistan is scheduled to arrive in India on Wednesday and will play two warm-up matches before commencing their World Cup campaign against the Netherlands on October 6. A highly anticipated clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan is set for October 14 in Ahmedabad.
Earlier this year, India declined to tour Pakistan for the Asia Cup, choosing to play their matches in Sri Lanka instead. The Asia Cup took place from August 30 to September 17.
The resolution of the visa issue allows cricket fans to look forward to an exciting World Cup tournament, with both India and Pakistan fielding competitive teams.
