India to issue visas for Pakistan Cricket Team today for World Cup

After a lot of delay, and tension, finally there is some good news in store for Pakistan. Babar Azam-led team’s visas is likely to be issued today. To note, Pakistan were set to travel to India for World Cup today. However, the delay in visas postponed their departure.

The sources mentioned that the Indian embassy in Pakistan is expected to receive a non-objection certificate from its home ministry later today, following which it will immediately issue the visas.

As the squad did not receive the visas earlier, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had intimated the International Cricket Council, which directed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to fasten the process.

There was also tension among the group as the possible delay in visas could have hampered their WC plans.

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This is not the first time that Pakistan have hit a visa snag on India tour. The football team for the SAFF Championship could only arrive in India on the day of the match after several delays in the issuance of visas.

Pakistan Cricket: Visas likely to be issued today for Babar Azam & Co, limited fans only to get visas

Meanwhile, BCCI and ICC are still working on limited visas for Pakistani fans in World Cup. In 2016, 250 visas per match were granted for Pakistani fans and journalists. While the number is still unclear, the BCCI & the ICC are working with the Indian Ministry of External Affairs for a limited number of visas. Like T20 World Cup 2016, the fans will get multi-city visa.

“I am not sure of the number yet. But we are working with the MEA along with ICC on some number of visas per match. We are hopeful that some Pakistani fans will be able to attend the team’s matches. Yes, it will be multi-city visa but as far as I know,” the BCCI official told InsideSport.

Also Read: Trouble brewing in Pakistan cricket, Babar Azam & Co mull boycotting sponsor logos in World Cup

Pakistan and India haven’t played bilateral series in any format since 2012-13. Pakistan last toured India for ODI and T20I series. The two arch-rivals played a Test against each other back in 2007.

Pakistan’s schedule for World Cup

Pakistan World Cup Schedule

Match No	Date	Day	Team 1	Team 2	Venue	City	Time
2	October 6	Friday	Pakistan	Netherlands	Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium	Hyderabad	2:00 PM
9	October 10	Tuesday	Pakistan	Sri Lanka	Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium	Hyderabad	2:00 PM
13	October 14	Saturday	India	Pakistan	Narendra Modi Stadium	Ahmedabad	2:00 PM
18	October 20	Friday	Australia	Pakistan	M Chinnaswamy Stadium	Bengaluru	2:00 PM
22	October 23	Monday	Pakistan	Afghanistan	MA Chidambaram Stadium	Chennai	2:00 PM
26	October 27	Friday	Pakistan	South Africa	MA Chidambaram Stadium	Chennai	2:00 PM
31	October 31	Tuesday	Pakistan	Bangladesh	Eden Gardens	Kolkata	2:00 PM
35	November 4	Saturday	New Zealand	Pakistan	M Chinnaswamy Stadium	Bengaluru	10:30 AM
45	November 11	Saturday	England	Pakistan	Eden Gardens	Kolkata	2:00 PM

The day matches will start at 10am Pakistan Standard Time (PST) while all other matches will be day-night fixtures starting at 1:30pm (PST).

If Pakistan qualify for the semi-finals, they will play in Kolkata.

If India qualify for the semi-finals, they will play in Mumbai unless playing against Pakistan, in which case they will play in Kolkata.

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

Reserves
Mohammad Haris, Zaman Khan, Abrar Ahmed.

Cricket ICC World Cup