ODI World Cup 2023: Pakistan Cricket Team still await visas for India

Pakistan's preparations for the 2023 Cricket World Cup have encountered a significant setback due to reported visa issues, adding to the longstanding political tensions between India and Pakistan. Pakistan is the only one of the nine participating teams yet to secure their visas for the marquee tournament in India. Originally, Pakistan had planned a two-day training camp in Dubai before flying to India, with warm-up matches scheduled against New Zealand and Australia in Hyderabad.

However, the visa delays have forced them to abandon their stay in Dubai. They now plan to fly directly from Lahore to Dubai, hoping to obtain their visas in time to proceed to Hyderabad. Officials from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) remain optimistic about receiving the necessary visa approvals.

The visa complications underscore the strained relations between the two neighbouring nations, stemming from geopolitical issues since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. Their bilateral cricketing ties have been sporadic, with only one series taking place when Pakistan visited India in 2012-13. This World Cup visit to India marks Pakistan's first since the 2016 T20 World Cup, with most of the current squad members experiencing their maiden trip to India.

Pakistan (Source: Twitter)

The scheduling of upcoming World Cup matches also reflects the political tension. India initially declined to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup 2023, leading to the tournament being played in a hybrid model in Sri Lanka. The PCB even threatened to boycott the ODI World Cup if India refused to visit Pakistan.

Furthermore, concerns about the security arrangements in Ahmedabad for the high-profile India-Pakistan match led to its rescheduling to avoid a clash with a Hindu festival, Navratri. These events highlight the challenges posed by political tensions in the cricketing world, impacting team preparations and tournament schedules.

Hasan Ali named in the squad for ODI World Cup

All the suspense and speculation that was created before the selection of the Pakistan team seems to have gone away. The PCB announced their much-awaited squad for the World Cup on Friday, September 22. Pakistan made a surprise change to their squad, bringing in experienced fast bowler Hasan Ali to replace the injured Naseem Shah.

Hasan, who was the player of the tournament in Pakistan's Champions Trophy triumph in 2017, has lost his place in the squad following his recent poor performances. Chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq cited Hasan as the best choice for the 15-man World Cup squad. The marquee event will kick off on October 5 in Ahmedabad and Pakistan will open their campaign against the Netherlands on October 6.