With World Cup 2023 just 08 days away from its opening match, Pakistan will be travelling to India today after 07 long years. Their last visit to the neighbouring country was to compete in the ICC T20 World Cup 2016. Political differences have refrained the two Asian cricketing giants from playing the bilateral series against each other. The last of which came in 2012/13 when Pakistan visited India for a short series. It’s a pity that the fans can only see them compete in ICC tournaments.
Visa Delay
After a lot of hassle with visa delay, PCB also wrote to ICC regarding the indifferent treatment received in delaying visas to its players. PCB finally received the visas less than 48 hours before flying to India on Monday, hours after they wrote to ICC, giving them the green light to travel to India via Dubai.
But the delay had already caused the Pakistan team to cancel plans for a pre-World Cup 2023 team bonding trip to the UAE on which the PCB was not happy.
“It’s a matter of disappointment that the Pakistan team has to go through this uncertainty ahead of the major tournament. We have been reminding [them] about their obligations for the last three years and it has all come down to the last two days with our first warm game scheduled on September 29”. – PCB statement read.
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World Cup 2023 Warm-up Matches
Pakistan team will land in Hyderabad at 08:15 PM local time. They will play their first warm-up match against New Zealand on 29th September in Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad, and then against Australia on 03rd October at the same venue.
Opening Match
Pakistan will then kick off their World Cup 2023 campaign against the Netherlands in their opening match on 06th October in Hyderabad.
Travel Contingent
The travel contingent consists of 18 players led by captain Babar Azam and 13 player support personnel. Pakistan’s bowling coach, Morne Morkel will join the team in Dubai meanwhile the team director Mickey Arthur will be joining in India.
Pakistan squad: Babar Azam (C), Shadab Khan (VC), Fakhar Zaman, Imam ul Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Agha Salman, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Hassan Ali & Mohammad Wasim Jr.
Travelling reserves: Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Haris, Zaman Khan
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