Pakistan issue visas to Afghanistan squad ahead of ODI series in Sri Lanka

The Pakistan government has issued visas to the Afghanistan squad ahead of three-match One-day International (ODI) series in Sri Lanka, next month.

Fawad Chaudhry, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, shared the news on his official Twitter account.

“Pakistan has issued visas to the Afghan cricket team, we hope and pray that the Afghan cricket team will bring smiles on the faces of its people,” tweeted Fawad.

پاکستان نے افغانستان کی کرکٹ ٹیم کو ویزہ جاری کر دیا ہے، ہم امید اور دعا کرتے ہیں کہ افغان کرکٹ ٹیم اپنے عوام کی چہروں پر مسکراہٹیں لائے گی...... “زما دا اخلاص نہ ڈکے نیکے حیلے اؤ دعاگانے تاسو سرا دی۔” #AfganistanCricketTeam

— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) August 22, 2021

The purpose of issuing the visas is to ensure that the Afghanistan team can reach Sri Lanka via Pakistan and United Arab Emirates (UAE). The decision was taken after no commercial flights were available from Kabul, following the Taliban takeover of the country.

The Afghan team’s travel plan will include a road trip to Pakistan, which is likely to take place today, followed by a flight to Dubai and Colombo, respectively.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) also offered to host the series in Pakistan but that was declined by the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB).

The series is set to take place in Hambantota from September 3.