PCB raises ‘critical issues’ with ICC as look forward to Indian visa continues lower than 2 days earlier than journey
The Pakistan Cricket Board on Monday raised critical issues with the ICC over the delay within the nationwide crew’s journey to India for the World Cup as a consequence of visa points and claimed the anxious wait has already impacted its preparation for the 50-over showpiece.
The PCB wrote to the ICC because it continues to attend for visa clearance from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.
Pakistan had been alleged to have a two-day crew bonding session in Dubai earlier than their scheduled arrival in Hyderabad on September 27 nevertheless it has been canceled with uncertainty over the Indian visa.
The Babar Azam-led facet performs two warm-up video games and as many World Cup matches in Hyderabad, beginning with the observe fixture towards New Zealand on September 29. In the letter addressed to ICC CEO Geoff Allardice, the PCB additionally claimed that its issues over visa being granted to gamers, crew officers, followers and journalists for the World Cup in India haven’t been addressed for greater than three years. It additionally added that such inequitable remedy to Pakistan is not going to be acceptable.
Reiterating these issues, PCB spokesperson Umar Farooq instructed PTI: “There has been extraordinary delays in getting clearance and securing Indian visas for the Pakistan team for the ICC World Cup. We have written to the ICC raising our concerns about inequitable treatment towards Pakistan and reminding them of these obligations towards the World Cup. It’s a matter of disappointment that the Pakistan team has to go through the uncertainty ahead of the major tournament.
“We have been reminding about their obligations from final three years and it has all come all the way down to final two days with our first heat recreation scheduled on September 29. We had been pressured to cancel our unique plan to organise team-building train in Dubai on the best way to India. We have needed to rework our plan and e book new flights, however these plans are topic issuance of visas,” he said.
Pakistan last visited India for the T20 World Cup in 2016. The arch-rivals only play each other in the Asia Cup and ICC tournaments due to the tense relations between the two countries.
“Since the final week PCB is being knowledgeable that the visas will likely be obtained inside 24 hours; however nonetheless awaiting and it has been indicated that the Indian Home Ministry has not granted NOC,” the spokesperson added.
PCB sources informed that flight tickets of around 35 members have been re-booked now that the Dubai trip is off. Subject to visa, the team will now leave for Hyderabad from Lahore in the wee hours of September 27 and reach Hyderabad via Dubai in the night.
“The warm-up recreation is lower than 4 days away and gamers are in a state of uncertainty. If the gamers are having to expertise delays, one can solely marvel what is going to occur to visa purposes of followers and journalists,” a supply mentioned.
Published On:
Sep 25, 2023
