In a surprising turn of events, Pakistan team departure for the ODI World Cup 2023 has been postponed due to delays in obtaining visas for the team’s travel to India. The team had originally planned a pre-World Cup bonding trip to Dubai before heading to Hyderabad for their first warm-up match against New Zealand. However, due to the visa delay, their travel plans have been reshuffled.
Instead of the initial itinerary, Pakistan will now depart from Lahore to Dubai on Wednesday before proceeding to Hyderabad. This unexpected delay has raised concerns among some officials, but there remains a hopeful outlook that the visas will be issued in time for the players.
The visa application process was initiated more than a week ago, making Pakistan the only team traveling to India for the World Cup still awaiting their visas. Obtaining visas for citizens of both countries has historically been a challenging endeavor due to the complex political situation in the region.
Cricketing relations between Pakistan and India have become increasingly rare, with the last ODI bilateral series taking place in 2012-13 when Pakistan toured India. Despite the challenges, the Pakistani government granted clearance for the team to travel to India back in August.
Pakistan’s first warm-up game against New Zealand is scheduled for the upcoming Friday in Hyderabad. However, due to security concerns, the match will be played behind closed doors.
The cricketing world watches closely as Pakistan navigates these visa hurdles, hoping for a timely resolution that allows the team to participate in the highly anticipated ODI World Cup 2023.