Members of the Pakistan cricket crew have been on Monday issued Indian visas for the ODI World Cup, the International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed, hours after the PCB raised critical issues with the worldwide physique over the delay within the nationwide crew’s journey to Hyderabad. The visa clearance got here lower than 48 hours earlier than Pakistan’s scheduled journey to India within the wee hours of September 27. They play their first warm-up recreation in opposition to New Zealand in Hyderabad on September 29. “Visas have been issued to Pakistan,” an ICC spokesperson instructed PTI.

However, confusion remained within the Pakistan camp over the grant of visa.

“We have not got the call from Indian High Commission yet over visa clearance. Member of our team is stationed there,” PCB spokesperon Umar Farooq instructed PTI.

The affirmation from the ICC got here after the PCB wrote to ICC CEO Geoff Allardice on Monday over the visa delay apart from claiming the anxious wait has adversely impacted the crew’s preparation for the 50-over showpiece.

Pakistan have been alleged to have a two-day crew bonding session in Dubai earlier than their scheduled arrival in Hyderabad on September 27 however was cancelled because of the uncertainty over Indian visa.

The Babar Azam-led aspect performs two warm-up video games and as many World Cup matches in Hyderabad beginning with the observe fixture in opposition to New Zealand.

In the letter addressed to Allardice, the PCB additionally claimed that its issues over visa being granted to gamers, crew officers, followers and journalists for the World Cup in India haven’t been addressed for greater than three years. It additionally added that such inequitable remedy to Pakistan is not going to be acceptable.

Reiterating these issues, Farooq added: “There has been an extraordinary delays in getting clearance and securing Indian visas for the Pakistan team for ICC World Cup.

“We have written to ICC elevating our issues about inequitable remedy in the direction of Pakistan and reminding them of those obligations in the direction of the World Cup. It’s a matter of disappointment that the Pakistan crew has to undergo the uncertainty forward of the most important match.

“We 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 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 mentioned.

Pakistan final visited India for the T20 World Cup in 2016. The arch-rivals solely play one another within the Asia Cup and ICC tournaments because of the tense relations between the 2 international locations.

PCB sources knowledgeable that flight tickets of round 35 members have been re-booked now that the Dubai journey is off. The crew will now depart for Hyderabad from Lahore within the wee hours of September 27 and attain Hyderabad through Dubai within the night time.

“The warm-up 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 supply mentioned.

Visa functions from Pakistan require clearances from three ministries — house, exterior affairs and sports activities.

Pakistan’s second warm-up recreation will likely be in opposition to Australia on October 3, additionally in Hyderabad.

They will stay within the metropolis for his or her opening two World Cup video games in opposition to Netherlands and Sri Lanka on October 6 and 10 respectively earlier than flying to Ahmedabad for the large recreation in opposition to hosts India on October 14.

Only two members from the present Pakistan squad have toured India for cricket — Mohammad Nawaz and Salman Agha.