Pakistan cricket team on its way to India to play World Cup

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2023-09-27T22:05:02+05:00 News Desk

 

Pakistan men’s cricket team was on its way to India, en route Duabi, in the wee hours of Wednesday to participate in the ICC World Cup 2023, which will be played from October 5 to November 19, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The Men in Green took off from Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport with a layover in Dubai before reaching their final destination in Indian city of Hyderabad tonight, where they will take on New Zealand on September 29 in their first warm-up fixture of the ICC World Cup 2023.

Earlier, Pakistani players and officials received their Indian visas for the World Cup after experiencing a lengthy delay, which promoted the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to record its protest by writing a letter to the International Cricket Council (ICC) in this regard. The PCB sent a stern letter to the cricket governing body and raised concerns over the ongoing visa debacle and reminded the regulatory body about the Host-Member agreement.

“We have been discussing this issue for three years. No one paid attention to our concerns. And now the situation has gotten to the point where we are yet to receive visas,” the letter stated. “We are in a state of uncertainty due to ignorance of concerned authorities. We had to stay in Dubai for two days but due to this visa issue, we had to cancel that [trip].

“Whenever we contacted the concerned authority, we were told that the visas would be issued in 24 hours.

“And now, with every passing day, the uncertainty is increasing and it is worrying everyone.”

Pakistan squad

Babar Azam (captain), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, M Wasim Jnr, Hasan Ali Shaheen Shah Afridi, Saud Shakeel, Salman Ali Agha

Travelling reserves: Mohammad Haris, Abrar Ahmed, Zaman Khan

Warm-up matches schedule:

  • September 29 — vs New Zealand in Hyderabad
  • October 3 — vs Australia in Hyderabad

Pakistan’s World Cup schedule:

  • October 6 – vs Netherlands in Hyderabad
  • October 10 – vs Sri Lanka in Hyderabad
  • October 14 – vs India in Ahmedabad
  • October 20 – vs Australia in Bengaluru
  • October 23 – vs Afghanistan in Chennai
  • October 27 – vs South Africa in Chennai
  • October 31 – vs Bangladesh in Kolkata
  • November 4 – vs New Zealand Bengaluru (Day match)
  • November 11 – vs England in Kolkata

The day matches will start at 10:00 am Pakistan Standard Time (PST) while all other matches will be day-night fixtures, starting at 01:30 pm (PST).

Coaches also on their way

The PCB has confirmed that Morne Morkel, the fast bowling coach of the team will join the squad in Dubai while Team Director Mickey Arthur will directly join the team in India. The South Africa-born Arthur was appointed as team director in April this year.

Arthur has been instrumental in selecting Grant Bradburn as the head coach of the Pakistan cricket team along with a set of support staff who will be assisting the team during the World Cup. 

Pakistan begin their World Cup campaign against the Netherlands on October 6 in Hyderabad. They take on India in the big clash in Ahmedabad on October 14.

 

Reporter Hafiz Shahbaz

With input from Agencies

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