Xtra Time Web Desk: The Pakistan cricket team’s plans for a trip to Dubai for a short camp before travelling to India for upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 have been cancelled due to visa issues. Among the nine participating teams, Pakistan is reportedly the only one yet to receive their visas. Initially, the team was set to travel to the UAE before heading to Hyderabad for a warm-up game against New Zealand on September 29. However, these plans have now been scrapped, and the team will fly directly to Hyderabad from Karachi next week. This visit marks Pakistan’s first trip to India for cricket since 2012-13.
Notably, there have been no bilateral series between the two teams in each other’s countries since 2012-13. Only two players in the current Pakistan squad have previously visited India for cricket-related assignments. Pakistan’s World Cup campaign will begin on October 6 against The Netherlands in Hyderabad, with Babar Azam leading the squad.
Unfortunately, Pakistan will be without star pacer Naseem Shah, who sustained a niggling injury during the Super Four clash against India at the Asia Cup. Hasan Ali has been named as his replacement, and Pakistan’s formidable pace attack will be led by Shaheen Shah Afridi, supported by Haris Rauf, Mohammed Waseem, and Hasan Ali.