The Pakistan cricket team’s much-anticipated pre-World Cup bonding trip to Dubai has hit a snag as players await their visas to travel to India. Originally, the Pakistan squad had planned to fly to the UAE for a short stay before proceeding to Hyderabad for their first warm-up match against New Zealand.

However, due to unforeseen visa delays, Pakistan has had to adjust its travel plans. Now, the team is scheduled to depart from Lahore to Dubai on Wednesday before continuing their journey to Hyderabad.

While the situation has raised concerns among some officials, there remains a sense of optimism that the visas will eventually come through in time for the players.

The visa application process was initiated over a week ago, but Pakistan finds itself as the only team traveling to India for the World Cup still awaiting visa approvals.

Obtaining visas for citizens of both countries has historically been a challenging and often uncertain process, primarily due to the complex political relations between India and Pakistan.

Cricketing interactions between the two nations have become increasingly rare, with the last ODI bilateral series occurring in 2012-13 when Pakistan toured India.

Pakistan has already faced numerous hurdles, including discussions about alternative venues, but the government granted clearance for travel to India in August.

Pakistan’s first warm-up match against New Zealand is scheduled for the upcoming Friday in Hyderabad. However, due to security concerns, the match will be played behind closed doors.

Despite these challenges, the cricketing community remains hopeful that the visa issue will be resolved, allowing the tournament to proceed smoothly.