Pakistan Cricket Team Visits US Embassy to Start Visa Process for T20 World Cup 2024

The Pakistan national cricket team visited the US Embassy in Islamabad on Monday to begin the visa process for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024, which will be co-hosted by the United States and West Indies. During the visit, the squad interacted with US Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome and engaged in a friendly cricket demonstration.

Ambassador Blome welcomed the Pakistani players and extended his best wishes for the tournament. He presented the group with a commemorative embassy cricket ball and an autographed softball bat. In return, the Pakistani team gifted the ambassador a signed cricket bat and team jersey.

The upcoming T20 Cricket World Cup will mark the first time the event is hosted in the United States. Pakistan has been slated to compete in the same group stage as the US, setting up a highly anticipated matchup between the two sides on June 6.

Why this matters: The visit by the Pakistan cricket team to the US Embassy highlights the growing popularity and reach of cricket in the United States. It also underscores the importance of sports diplomacy in fostering positive relations between the two countries.

The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Mohsin Naqvi, and assistant coach Azhar Mahmood accompanied the players during the embassy visit. Players including Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, and Imad Wasim were seen interacting with embassy staff, taking pictures, and signing autographs.

The T20 World Cup 2024 will feature 20 qualifying teams divided into four groups, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the Super 8 round, followed by the semi-finals and final. Pakistan's match against arch-rivals India, scheduled for June 9 at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York, has already generated immense interest, with the public ballot for tickets being oversubscribed by 200 times.

As the Pakistani squad prepares for the upcoming tour of Ireland and England, the selectors are awaiting updates on the fitness of four injured players before finalizing the squad. A brief training camp is scheduled to commence from May 3 in Lahore prior to the departure for Ireland. The T20I matches against Ireland and England will provide crucial opportunities for players to secure their spots in the World Cup squad.

Key Takeaways

• Pakistan cricket team visited US Embassy in Islamabad for T20 World Cup 2024 visa process.
• T20 World Cup 2024 will be co-hosted by US and West Indies, a first for the event.
• Pakistan to compete in the same group as US, setting up an anticipated matchup.
• Pakistan-India match on June 9 in New York has generated immense public interest.
• Pakistan squad preparing for Ireland and England tours before finalizing World Cup squad.