Pakistan’s pre-World Cup trip to Dubai cancelled due to visas delay

NEW DELHI: Pakistan’s plans for a pre-World Cup team bonding trip to Dubai have been called off due to delays in obtaining their visas for travel to India on Friday, according to ESPNcricinfo.
The ‘Men in Green’ had initially scheduled a trip to the UAE for next week, where they would spend a few days before proceeding to Hyderabad for their first warm-up match against New Zealand on September 29.
However, these plans have been scrapped, and the Pakistan team will now travel to Karachi and then fly to Hyderabad next week.
This marks Pakistan’s first visit to India since the 2012-13 season.
Pakistan are set to commence their World Cup campaign on October 6 against The Netherlands at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.
On Friday, Pakistan announced their 15-player squad for the World Cup, with Babar Azam leading the team. Unfortunately, the squad will miss the presence of star pacer Naseem Shah, who sustained a minor injury during a Super Four clash against India in the Asia Cup. Naseem Shah had to leave the field during the middle of an over and was subsequently ruled out of the competition.
As a replacement for Naseem, Hasan Ali has been included in the squad. Pakistan’s formidable pace attack will be spearheaded by Shaheen Shah Afridi, with support from Haris Rauf, Mohammed Waseem, and Hasan Ali.
Pakistan squad for the upcoming World Cup:
Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi and Mohammad Wasim.