ODI World Cup 2023: PCB raises 'serious concerns' with ICC over visa delay

Raising serious concerns with the ICC over visa delay for the forthcoming ODI World Cup 2023 due to visa issues the Pakistan Cricket Board on Monday claimed the anxious wait has already impacted its preparation for the 50over showpieceThe PCB wrote to the ICC as it continues to wait for visa clearance from the Indian High Commission in IslamabadPakistan were supposed to have a twoday team bonding session in Dubai before their scheduled arrival in Hyderabad on September 27 but it has been cancelled with uncertainty over Indian visaThe Babar Azamled side plays two warmup games and as many World Cup matches in Hyderabad starting with the practice fixture against New Zealand on September 29In the letter addressed to ICC CEO Geoff Allardice the PCB also claimed that its concerns over visa being granted to players team officials fans and journalists for the World Cup in India have not been addressed for more than three years It also added that such inequitable treatment to Pakistan will not be acceptableAlso Read India Pakistan make no special preparations for each otherReiterating those concerns PCB spokesperson Umar Farooq told PTI There has been an extraordinary delays in getting clearance and securing Indian visas for the Pakistan team for ICC World CupWe have written to ICC raising our concerns about inequitable treatment towards Pakistan and reminding them of these obligations towards the World Cup Its a matter of disappointment that the Pakistan team has to go through the uncertainty ahead of the major tournamentWe have been reminding about their obligations from last three years and it has all come down to last two days with our first warm game scheduled on September 29 We were forced to cancel our original plan to organise teambuilding exercise in Dubai on the way to India We have had to rework our plan and book new flights but these plans are subject issuance of visas he saidPakistan last visited India for the T20 World Cup in 2016 The archrivals only play each other in the Asia Cup and ICC tournaments due to the tense relations between the two countriesThe warmup game is less than four days away and players are in a state of uncertainty If the players are having to experience delays one can only wonder what will happen to visa applications of fans and journalists a source saidVisa applications from Pakistan require clearances from three ministries home external affairs and sportsPakistans second warmup game will be against Australia on October 3 also in HyderabadThey will remain in the city for their opening two World Cup games against Netherlands and Sri Lanka on October 6 and 10 respectively before flying to Ahmedabad for the big game against hosts India on October 14With agency inputs