In a long-awaited and historic moment, the Pakistan cricket team touched down in the bustling Indian city of Hyderabad on a Wednesday, marking their participation in the upcoming ICC World Cup 2023.
After a journey that took them through Dubai, the national team landed at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. A video posted by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) captured the squad disembarking from their flight.
This development was confirmed by the Press Trust of India, underlining the significance of this visit as it’s Pakistan’s first journey to their neighboring country in seven years. Their previous excursion to India was in 2016 for the T20 World Cup.
Earlier in the week, the Indian government had finally granted visas to the Pakistani squad, a process that experienced multiple delays. The issuance of these visas came after the PCB had penned a letter to the International Cricket Council (ICC), expressing their concerns regarding the visa matter.
With the ICC World Cup 2023 all set to unfold in India from October 5 to November 19, the Pakistan cricket team is gearing up for their opening match on October 6, which will see them face off against the Netherlands in Hyderabad. The clash everyone has been eagerly awaiting, the showdown with arch-rivals India, is scheduled for October 14 in Ahmedabad.
![LAHORE: Sterling performances by Pakistan’s opening batter Fakhar Zaman helped him to attain the International Cricket Council Men’s Player of the Month award for April, cricket governing body announced on Tuesday. Fakhar smashed centuries in each of the opening two games of Pakistan’s five-match One-day International series against New Zealand. His 180 not out in the second match in Rawalpindi, following 117 in the first, helped Pakistan pull off their second-highest run chase. “He [Zaman] beat tough competition from Sri Lanka spin wizard Prabath Jayasuriya, and emerging New Zealand batter Mark Chapman,” an ICC news release stated. Fakhar said he was “truly honoured” to win the award. “This month has been one of the highlights of my career and it was an amazing feeling to play in front of my own people in Lahore, Rawalpindi and Karachi,” he was quoted as saying in the ICC news release. “I really enjoyed scoring back-to-back centuries in Rawalpindi, but my favourite was the 180 not out in the second match. I hope to continue the momentum leading into the World Cup, and make Pakistan fans happy and proud with my performances.”](https://www.thepaksports.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Fakhar-bags-ICC-player-of-the-month-award-100x70.jpg "Fakhar bags ICC player of the month award")
