![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/static-assets\/images\/newsletter\/sport\/sport-135x135.png\")
<\/p>\nPakistan cricket team arrives in India for ICC 2023 Cricket World Cup<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Pakistan\u2019s cricket team arrived in India after a gap of almost seven years to cheers from fans and messages of welcome from their Indian counterparts, as they prepare to participate in the 13th edition of the ICC Men\u2019s Cricket World Cup starting from 5 October.<\/p>\n
It comes after the team faced what officials described as an \u201cextraordinary delay\u201d in securing visas for the players to enter India, with permission only being granted hours before they arrived on Wednesday night. <\/p>\n
Pakistan and India have a long history of hostility since gaining independence from British rule in 1947, marked by three wars and restrictions on the movement of their citizens across the border. Despite the two countries being neighbours there are no direct flights, with journeys between the two typically taking a long detour via Dubai.<\/p>\n
It all makes for one of the world\u2019s fiercest sporting rivalries, with India-Pakistan matches considered must-see events across South Asia. They are all the more hotly anticipated because of their rarity, with the two sides only facing each other in international tournaments. Pakistan last played in India during the T20 World Cup in 2016. <\/p>\n
Star Indian cricketer Virat Kohli wrote on X: \u201cI warmly welcome Pakistan Cricket Team on their arrival in my country after a long time period of 7 years.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added that he would host a party \u201cfor my friends, especially for (all-rounder) Shadab (Khan) at my house.\u201d He added: \u201cLove you all, always spread love and joy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Photos and videos shared on social media showed Pakistan\u2019s players trooping out with a cheering crowd waiting for them outside the airport in the Indian city of Hyderabad. <\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2023\/09\/28\/04\/Cricket_Sri_Lanka_Cricketer_Acquitted_49120.jpg\")
\n![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2023\/09\/27\/12\/China_Asian_Games_Skateboarding_08237.jpg\")
\n![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2023\/08\/30\/09\/Pakistan_Politics_69524.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
The 2023 Cricket World Cup will take place in India between 5 October and 19 November. Arch-rivals India and Pakistan will play at the Narendra Modi Stadium at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Complex in Ahmedabad on 14 October.<\/p>\n
It is expected to be one of the most-watched matches of the tournament.<\/p>\n
The original match date of 15 October coincided with the commencement of the Hindu festival of Navratri and local police said they would be unable to provide adequate security. The match was subsequently rescheduled to be held on 14 October.<\/p>\n
Former foreign minister of Pakistan Bilawal Bhutto Zardari wrote on X: \u201cThe Pakistan cricket team reached India last night for the World Cup to a heartwarming reception by the Indian people. Good luck Team Pakistan, make us proud!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAlthough we have not played in India before, we are not taking too much pressure. We have done our research and we have heard the conditions are similar to how they play out in other Asian countries,\u201d Babar Azam, the captain of the team, told the media before leaving for India.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am excited to play in Ahmedabad as it will be jam-packed. I will try my best to perform up to my potential. I am not worried about my individual accolades, I want to make sure whatever I do helps the result for the team,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
The head of the Pakistan Cricket Board management committee Zaka Ashraf said: \u201cThe BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) has assured the ICC (International Cricket Council) that all teams will be provided the best security and will be well looked after so I don\u2019t expect anything different for our team. I don\u2019t think our team will face any issues in India.\u201d<\/p>\n
Upon their arrival in Hyderabad, Pakistan\u2019s cricketers took to social media to share their reactions to the welcome they received. \u201cAmazing reception from the people here. Everything was super smooth. Looking forward to the next 1.5 months,\u201d wrote Muhammad Rizwan.<\/p>\n
The official handle of PCB also shared a video of fans cheering for the Pakistan team on their arrival on X. \u201cA warm welcome in Hyderabad as we land on Indian shores,\u201d the handle wrote.<\/p>\n
Direct flights between India and Pakistan have remained suspended for over four years due to deteriorating relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, primarily stemming from New Delhi\u2019s decision to revoke the semi-autonomous status of Indian-administered Kashmir.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2023\/09\/22\/09\/2023-09-17T144045Z_275757872_RC2DA3ACOMDD_RTRMADP_3_CRICKET-ASIA.JPG\")
\n![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2023\/09\/28\/08\/newFile-4.jpg\")
\n![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2023\/09\/11\/23\/newFile.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Shahid Afridi, former Pakistan cricketer wrote on Instagram: \u201cGreat welcome, thus far.\u201d The post soon went viral.<\/p>\n
In the spirit of camaraderie, one fan wrote: \u201cThanks to Indians for a warm welcome of Pakistan Cricket Team That was totally unexpected & so mesmerising.\u201d <\/p>\n