Pakistan is gearing up to participate in the ICC Men’s World Cup 2023, scheduled to kick off on October 5 in India.
Notably, the cricketing rivals, Pakistan and India, have refrained from engaging in bilateral series for several years. For the majority of the Pakistani squad set to compete in the tournament, this will mark their maiden experience of playing in the neighboring country.
The last time Pakistan and India faced each other in a bilateral series in any format was during the 2012-13 season. Pakistan’s most recent visit to India was for an ODI and T20I series, with a Test match back in 2007.
Of the current Pakistani squad members participating in the World Cup, only Mohammad Nawaz and Salman Ali Agha have prior exposure to touring India. Nawaz had the opportunity to visit India in 2016 for the ICC World Twenty20, although he didn’t feature in any matches during the tournament.
Agha’s experience in India involves a Champions League match where he represented the Lahore Lions squad. In that game against the Dolphins, he managed to score one run off three balls.
It’s essential to note that, due to the strained relations between the two nations, the Indian government has yet to grant visas to the Pakistan team, despite the mega tournament being just days away.
