Lahore (Web Desk): Pakistan cricket team departed for Dubai on Wednesday from where they will en route to India to participate in ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023.
Pakistan squad left at 3.20 am for India’s city Hyderabad from the Lahore airport on a private international airlines flight EK 623 via Dubai. The squad consists of 18 players and 13 officials.
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The team is scheduled to stay in Dubai for nine hours and then depart for India. It will likely reach Hyderabad in India around 8:15 pm local time on September 27 (today).
Bowling Coach Morne Morkel will join the team in Dubai and men’s cricket team director Mickey Arthur will join the team in India.
Before the official start of the mega event, the national team will play two warm-up matches in Hyderabad, the first match will be played against New Zealand on September 29 while the second match will be against Australia on October 3.
The Pakistani team will start their World Cup campaign with a match against the Netherlands on October 6.
It should be remembered that the most awaited match of the mega event, between arch rivals Pakistan and host India will be played in Ahmedabad on October 14.
The Pakistani and Afghan cricket teams on Monday were finally issued visas to India after a long delay, ending uncertainty surrounding Pakistan's participation in the most awaited tournament.
After days of uncertainty and concerns raised by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) over the delay in visa issuance, both teams have now departed for the mega cricket event just days before it starts.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan's first warm-up match against 2019 World Cup runners-up New Zealand on Friday, leading up to the ICC World Cup is set to be held behind closed doors due to security concerns, according to a statement issued by the BCCI on Monday.
Pakistan squad for ICC World Cup 2023
Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, M Wasim Jnr, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Saud Shakeel, Salman Ali Agha.
Travelling reserves: Mohammad Haris, Abrar Ahmed, Zaman Khan.
dbdb6a3eaaf82eeb1c1cf516f12461b7Pakistan's schedule for warm-up matches
September 29 — vs New Zealand in Hyderabad
October 3 — vs Australia in Hyderabad
Pakistan's schedule for the ICC World Cup 2023:
October 6 — vs Netherlands in Hyderabad
October 10 — vs Sri Lanka in Hyderabad
October 14 — vs India in Ahmedabad
October 20 — vs Australia in Bengaluru
October 23 — vs Afghanistan in Chennai
October 27 — vs South Africa in Chennai
October 31 — vs Bangladesh in Kolkata
November 4 — vs New Zealand Bengaluru (Day match)
November 11 — vs England in Kolkata
The day matches which will start at 10:00am Pakistan Standard Time (PST) while all other day-night matches will be starting at 01:30pm (PST)
