Pakistan has been compelled to alter their travel arrangements for theWorld Cup due to India’s ongoing politicization of sports and their refusalto grant visas to the Pakistan squad. This disheartening development wasconfirmed by PCB. As a direct consequence of the visa delay, Pakistan hadto abandon their plans for a “team-bonding trip” to Dubai.
Initially, the Green Shirts had a meticulously planned itinerary thatinvolved departing for Dubai early next week before proceeding to India inpreparation for their first warm-up match against New Zealand, scheduledfor September 29.
Regrettably, these plans have been disrupted, and the team has nowstrategized to fly to Dubai first and then proceed to Hyderabad, India, onthe following Wednesday. Notably, Pakistan stands as the lone team amongthe nine participating nations that has yet to secure their visas.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), understandably concerned about theunfolding situation, has taken the prudent step of notifying theInternational Cricket Council (ICC) regarding the visa delay. The ICC WorldCup is set to commence on October 5, adding to the urgency of resolvingthis issue promptly.
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Sources close to the matter have revealed that the issuance of visas wasoriginally expected to adhere to the agreed-upon timeline with theregulatory body. To further compound the issue, Indian authorities haveremained notably reticent about providing any information regarding visaissuance for the Pakistani team and cricket fans alike.
This unfortunate turn of events casts a shadow over the otherwise highlyanticipated ICC World Cup, highlighting the pressing need for sports toremain apolitical and promote fair competition on the global stage. Theworld watches with bated breath, hoping for a swift resolution to thisdiplomatic imbroglio that threatens to mar the spirit of the tournament.
