World Cup 2023: Pakistan arrive in India amid tight security - watch video

Pakistan’s cricket team arrived in Hyderabad on Wednesday amid tight security ahead of World Cup. This is Pakistan’s first visit to India since 2016. The team’s arrival was met by excited crowds, which were held back by police officers, which cheered and shouted the team captain Babar Azam’s name, as the team arrived for the ODI tournament which begins 5 October. India and Pakistan only play cricket in international tournaments, and usually, the matches are staged in third countries. Pakistan skipper Babar Azam has played down the hype of facing their rivals in their backyard, saying ahead of their travel that the team was “not just going to play against India only”.

#WATCH | Telangana: Pakistan Cricket team arrives at Hyderabad airport, ahead of the World Cup scheduled to be held between October 5 to November 19, in India. pic.twitter.com/j1kFvqGJM2

— ANI (@ANI) September 27, 2023

Pakistan are slated to play two warm-up matches – against New Zealand on 29 September and Australia on 3 October – both in Hyderabad. The tournament involves 48 matches being played over 46 days at 10 different venues with the final set for November 19. But with large crowds expected for a festival on Friday, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said the first warm-up will be a closed door match as “per the advice of the local security agencies”. Pakistan open their World Cup campaign against the Netherlands, before facing arch-rivals India in Ahmedabad on 14 October. India, meanwhile, will begin their campaign against Australia on 8 October in Chennai followed by the hotly-anticipated clash against Pakistan. Visas for the Pakistan team were issued on Monday, Indian and Pakistani media reported, just 48 hours prior to their travel plans.