The Pakistan cricket team’s preparations for the upcoming ODI World Cup in India have hit a snag due to visa-related complications. This setback has led to the cancellation of their scheduled trip to Dubai as part of their pre-tournament preparations. Reports indicate that despite their best efforts, the team has not yet received the necessary visas for their visit to India. Among the nine teams participating in the tournament, Pakistan stands out as the only one yet to secure their visas.
Change in Travel Plans: Dubai Trip Scrapped
Initially, Pakistan had planned to fly to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) next week for a pre-World Cup team bonding trip before heading to Hyderabad for their first warm-up game against New Zealand on September 29. However, due to the visa hurdles, these plans have been abandoned. Instead, the Pakistan team will now head to Karachi and subsequently fly to Hyderabad next week. This marks Pakistan’s first cricketing tour to India since the 2012-13 season.
It’s worth noting that since the 2012-13 season when Pakistan visited India for a white-ball series, neither India nor Pakistan has engaged in a bilateral cricket series in the other’s country. Within the current Pakistan squad, only two players have previously visited India for cricketing assignments.
World Cup Opener in Hyderabad
Pakistan’s World Cup campaign is set to kick off on October 6 when they face The Netherlands at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. The 15-player squad, led by Babar Azam, was announced on Friday. However, the team will miss the services of star pacer Naseem Shah, who sustained an injury during a Super Four clash against India at the Asia Cup. In his absence, Hasan Ali has been named as Naseem’s replacement. Pakistan’s formidable pace attack will be spearheaded by Shaheen Shah Afridi, complemented by Haris Rauf, Mohammed Waseem, and Hasan Ali.
Pakistan squad for the upcoming World Cup: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.
