Pakistan set to face delayed arrival in India due to visa issue ahead of World Cup 2023

The Pakistan cricket team’s travel plans have hit a roadblock as their stopover in Dubai might not happen before they get to Hyderabad. Reports came in that the Babar Azam-led side wanted to have a team bonding exercise in Dubai. But now that has to be put on hold. This is because the Pakistan team is yet to receive their visas to travel to India. Despite being cross-border neighbours they are the only team who have not received their visas yet.

Pakistan will play their first warm-up fixture against New Zealand which will take place on September 29. The Men in Green will fly down to Karachi and then head to Hyderabad seven days later. Pakistan will be travelling to India for the first time after a long hiatus of ten years. The Men in Green last travelled to India in 2012-13 for a two-match T20I series and a three-match ODI series which was tied 1-1 and won by Pakistan 2-1, respectively.

After the 2009 terror attacks that affected the Sri Lankan side, India and Pakistan have not played against each other barring the above-mentioned bilateral series. They recently hosted the Asia Cup in 2023 which was four matches in total for them. Netherlands will face Pakistan in their first World Cup game. Pakistan have won the World Cup in 1992 and have made it to the finals in 1999. When they played in India in the 2011 World Cup, they made it to the semi-finals.

Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf will be a pivotal part of Pakistan’s bowling lineup

Talking about their World Cup squad, Naseem Shah will not be part of the team as he is ruled out due to an injury. Hasan Ali earned a recall into the side. Shadab Khan retains his vice-captaincy amidst reports that he could have lost it. Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and Mohammad Wasim make up the pace attack.

Pakistan’s 2023 World Cup squad: Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi and Mohammad Wasim.