PCB Blames India For World Cup Visa Delays

image-lmw043z3PCB claimed a bold call amid visa concerns ahead of World Cup (AP Photos)

Players from Pakistan have yet to receive visas for entry to India for the upcoming ODI World Cup, which will begin on October 5. Despite having deposited passports at the Indian Embassy in their nation right after returning from the Asia Cup, a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official claimed it to the New Indian Express on Saturday.

The PCB brought up the matter with the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Friday and is now awaiting word from the global governing body. The PCB was also forced to alter its original plans to hold a quick team-bonding camp in Dubai before departing for Hyderabad due to the delay.


"The passports were submitted as soon as the team (Pakistan) returned home from the Asia Cup held in Sri Lanka. We have yet not received the visas. The ICC has been apprised of the issue as this has made the PCB to change its plan of having a two-day team bonding camp in Dubai," a PCB official told The New Indian Express.

The Pakistan team were scheduled to depart for Hyderabad on September 27 after spending two days in Dubai starting on September 25. On September 29, the Men in Green, under the leadership of Babar Azam, were supposed to face New Zealand in the city for their opening exhibition game. Their second and last warm-up match will take place on October 3, against Australia.

Out of the nine participating countries, it is understood that only Pakistan have not yet received a visa for the World Cup. They are set to travel to India for the first time since they participated in the T20 World Cup in 2016.