Canada visa problems resolved

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Rizwan Cheema is now sure of taking his place at the World Cup © Eddie Norfolk Enlarge

Canada received a timely boost ahead of the World Cup with news that visas have been granted to three Pakistan-born players who were still waiting for the Indian authorities to clear their applications.

The squad left for Dubai for a training camp on January 28 with vice-captain Rizwan Cheema, Khurram Chohan and Hamza Tariq still uncertain whether they would be allowed to go to India. With all now clear Canada take a full squad to the tournament and they have two warm-up games - against Bangladesh and England - ahead of their opening match against Sri Lanka on February 20.

Cricket Canada's president, Ranjit Saini, had earlier said Canada's preparation had been damaged when the three players were prevented from attending a training tour to India last year. "We couldn't take these players to India and as a result our training plans have suffered," Saini told the Pakistan's Daily Mail earlier this month. "[It was] a source of distraction."

Canada's first match in India is against Zimbabwe on February 28.