ICC ODI World Cup 2023: Pakistan Cricket Team's visas approved by Indian Government, claims ICC

Hours after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) expressed its disappointment to the International Cricket Council (ICC) over the issue of approval of visas for the Pakistan national cricket team for the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 in India, the ICC has on Monday (September 25) confirmed that the Indian government has given approval.

As per reports, the global body informed that the clearance came on Monday evening, just a couple of days before the squad was scheduled to depart for Hyderabad via Dubai. Previous delays in the issuance had led to the cancellation of a planned team bonding trip to the UAE.

As per an ESPNCricinfo report, a government spokesperson informed that the 'Ministry of Home Affairs gives security clearance for the issue of visas' and 'the process is underway'. The PCB is expected to receive the passports with visas for its squad on Monday evening.

The delay in the granting of visas caused immense frustration, with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) expressing their displeasure to the ICC. They stated that such treatment, which singled out only the Pakistan team in terms of delays, was not acceptable.

In the letter addressed to ICC CEO Geoff Allardice, the PCB also claimed that its concerns over visas 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 would not be acceptable.

Reiterating those concerns, PCB spokesperson Umar Farooq told PTI: "There have been extraordinary delays in getting clearance and securing Indian visas for the Pakistan team for the ICC World Cup.

"We have written to 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 (them) about their obligations for the last three years and it has all come down to the last two days with our first warm game scheduled on September 29. We were forced to cancel our original plan to organise a team-building 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 said.

The Pakistan team is expected to depart for Dubai on Wednesday (September 27) and then head to Hyderabad the same evening. Their first warm-up game, which is scheduled against New Zealand, will take place on Friday in Hyderabad.