In a significant development, both the Pakistan and Afghanistan cricket teams have been issued visas for their much-anticipated participation in the upcoming 2023 Cricket World Cup, set to be hosted in India. The long-awaited clearance of these visas paves the way for a successful and competitive tournament, with fans around the world eagerly anticipating thrilling cricket action.
For the Pakistani cricket team, which is known for its rich history in the sport, the news of their visas being approved comes as a much-needed relief. The team’s players and support staff members are scheduled to depart for India on Wednesday, with Hyderabad as their initial destination, arriving two days ahead of their first warm-up match on Friday, September 29.
The issuance of visas for the Pakistan cricket contingent comes after the team had applied for them on September 19. It’s not unusual for the visa approval process to take approximately five days. Initially, Pakistan had planned to hold a team-bonding camp in Dubai before making their way to Hyderabad. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, they had to alter their plans and proceed directly to India.
Pakistan’s World Cup campaign kicks off with two warm-up matches before their highly anticipated encounter against the Netherlands, scheduled for October 6. The first warm-up match sees Pakistan facing New Zealand in Hyderabad, while the second warm-up match against Australia will also take place in Hyderabad on October 3.
One of the most eagerly awaited fixtures in the tournament is the clash between Pakistan and India, set for October 14 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. This high-profile encounter will be preceded by the World Cup opener between England and New Zealand on October 5.
Throughout the World Cup, Pakistan will be playing their matches across five different venues. Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru will each host two matches, while Ahmedabad is the chosen venue for some of the marquee clashes.
Heading into the Asia Cup as the top-ranked ODI team, Pakistan faced an unexpected exit in the Super 4s stage after suffering losses to arch-rivals India and Sri Lanka. However, the team remains highly competitive and will look to make a strong impact in the 2023 Cricket World Cup.
Here is Pakistan’s schedule for the 2023 World Cup (all times in IST):
- October 6: Pakistan vs. Netherlands, Hyderabad, 2:00 PM
- October 10: Pakistan vs. Sri Lanka, Hyderabad, 2:00 PM
- October 14: Pakistan vs. India, Ahmedabad, 2:00 PM
- October 20: Pakistan vs. Australia, Bengaluru, 2:00 PM
- October 23: Pakistan vs. Afghanistan, Chennai, 2:00 PM
- October 27: Pakistan vs. South Africa, Chennai, 2:00 PM
- October 31: Pakistan vs. Bangladesh, Kolkata, 2:00 PM
- November 4: Pakistan vs. New Zealand, Bengaluru, 10:30 AM
- November 11: Pakistan vs. England, Kolkata, 2:00 PM
The clearance of visas for both Pakistan and Afghanistan is a positive development for the cricketing world, as it ensures the participation of these two competitive teams in the 2023 Cricket World Cup, adding to the excitement and anticipation surrounding the tournament. Cricket enthusiasts can look forward to a thrilling display of talent and sportsmanship as these teams compete for cricket’s most prestigious title on Indian soil.