Pakistan team departed For the ICC World Cup 2023 In India on Wednesday to participate in the much-awaited World Cup.
The national team left at 3:20 AM from Lahore airport and will make a brief stopover in Dubai before taking a flight to Indian Hyderabad.
The team is scheduled to land in Hyderabad at 8:15 PM (local time) on 27 September 2023 (today).
Pakistan’s travel contingent consists of 18 players and 13-player support personnel.
Bowling coach Morne Morkel and men’s cricket team director Mickey Arthur will join the team in Dubai and India, respectively.
The team will take part in the training session the next day and is scheduled to play their first warm-up match against New Zealand on 29 September 2023.
Ahead of leaving for India, the national team captain Babar Azam requested cricket fans for prayers.
“As we head for the World Cup, we seek prayers of all the Pakistan cricket team fans and well-wishers. I am certain that you will continue to extend your support and love, which you have always done. Pakistan Zindabad,” Babar wrote on his official X handle.
Morne Morkel will join the team in Dubai. Mickey Arthur will join the team in India.
On Monday, after a long delay, India finally issued visas to the Pakistan team ending uncertainty surrounding Pakistan’s participation in the most awaited tournament.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had written to the International Cricket Council (ICC) complaining about a visa delay which, it said, had disrupted the team’s preparation for the mega event across the border.
Pakistan will play two warm-up matches before beginning their World Cup campaign against the Netherlands on 06 October 2023.
Arch-rivals India and Pakistan are set to clash in a mouth-watering 14 October 2023 contest in Ahmedabad.
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.
Traveling reserves: Mohammad Haris, Abrar Ahmed, Zaman Khan.
Player support personnel:
Rehan-ul-Haq (team manager), Mickey Arthur (Director – Pakistan men’s team), Grant Bradburn (head coach), Andrew Puttick (batting coach), Morne Morkel (bowling coach), Aftab Khan (fielding coach), Abdul Rehman (assistant coach), Dr. Sohail Saleem (team doctor), Drikus Saaiman (strength and conditioning coach), Cliffe Deacon (physiotherapist), Ahsan Iftikhar Nagi (media and digital content manager), Usman Anwari (security manager), Maqbool Ahmad Babri (psychologist), Talha Ejaz (analyst) and Malang Ali (masseur).
Schedule of Pakistan’s warm-up matches:
29 September 2023 — vs New Zealand in Hyderabad
03 October 2023 — vs Australia in Hyderabad
Pakistan’s schedule for the ICC World Cup 2023:
06 October 2023 — vs Netherlands in Hyderabad
10 October 2023 — vs Sri Lanka in Hyderabad
14 October 2023 — vs India in Ahmedabad
20 October 2023 — vs Australia in Bengaluru
23 October 2023 — vs Afghanistan in Chennai
27 October 2023 — vs South Africa in Chennai
31 October 2023 — vs Bangladesh in Kolkata
04 November 2023 — vs New Zealand Bengaluru (Day match)
11 November 2023 — vs England in Kolkata
The day matches will start at 10:00 AM Pakistan Standard Time (PST) while all other matches will be day-night fixtures starting at 01:30 PM (PST).
If Pakistan qualify for the semi-finals, they will play in Kolkata.
If India qualifies for the semi-finals, they will play in Mumbai unless playing against Pakistan, in which case they will play in Kolkata.