Pakistani fans face 'tough' visa rules for CT 2025 India match in Dubai

Pakistani fans wishing to travel to Dubai are unlikely to benefit from relaxed visa policies.

Those who have previously visited Dubai are more likely to be granted visas, and ticket purchases along with travel history will be considered for visa approval, Express News reported.

While tickets for the event are expected to go on sale next week, reports confirm that free passes will not be available this time around.

According to sources, only those who purchase tickets will be allowed to attend the matches.

Additionally, all tickets will be sold online, as per the International Cricket Council (ICC) guidelines, and no physical ticket booths will be set up.

Ticket prices have been revealed, with the cheapest ticket priced at approximately Rs1,000. The most expensive tickets will range between Rs25,000 and Rs30,000, with the prices for the Pakistan-India match expected to be on the higher end.

Final pricing for these tickets will be confirmed in the coming days.

The first round of group stage tickets will be available for purchase first, with tickets for the semi-finals and finals to be sold later.

Moreover, a joint press conference with the captains of all participating teams for the ICC Champions Trophy is scheduled to take place in Pakistan on either February 16 or 17, according to sources from the PCB.

As per PCB sources, a formal letter has been sent to the ICC, requesting that, as per protocol, all team captains gather in the host country prior to the start of the ICC event.

During this press conference, captains will discuss their preparations for the tournament.

The captains of all teams, including India’s Rohit Sharma, are expected to attend the press conference, which will be scheduled by the ICC a few days before the official start of the tournament on February 19.

It is the responsibility of the host board to provide visas to all players, officials, media, sponsors, and fans, including the Indian contingent.

As in previous tours, three Indian players were among those who received visas to visit Pakistan for scheduled events in Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Karachi.

The PCB will continue to handle visa arrangements for any individuals who require them.

Once the ICC announces the schedule for warm-up matches, the final date for the captains’ press conference will also be confirmed.