India issues visas to Pakistani cricket team 48 hours prior match following complaints

After the Pakistan cricket team's preparations for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 in India had hit a roadblock because of a visa delay by New Delhi that postponed their departure for the tournament, they were issued the relevant documents 48 hours before its kick-off.

As reported by ESPN Cricinfo, the squad and officials had planned to depart for the United Arab Emirates last week, as they intended to have a two-day team bonding session in Dubai before proceeding to India, where they are scheduled to face the Netherlands in their first match on October 6.

However, the delay in obtaining visas for the team has thrown their plans into disarray, once again highlighting the longstanding, contentious relationship between the two countries.

A spokesperson for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) explained, "We had intended to spend two days in Dubai on September 25 and 26 before heading to Hyderabad, India, for the team's pre-tournament warm-up matches". Unfortunately, due to the delay in receiving visas from India, the team had to cancel their team bonding session.

The visa approval comes hours after the PCB wrote to the cricket regulating body, expressing its displeasure at the delay in the issuance of the visas

It's worth noting that direct flights between India and Pakistan have been suspended for over four years, a consequence of strained relations stemming from New Delhi's controversial decision to revoke the special status of Indian-occupied Kashmir. Pakistan's cricket team last visited India in 2016 for the T20 Cricket World Cup, while India has not sent its cricket team to Pakistan since 2006.