The Indian cricket team left for Lahore [Images] on Thursday on their 46-day tour to Pakistan nearly four hours behind the scheduled departure.

The team, on their second full-fledged series visit to the neighbouring country in as many years, were held up in Delhi by a flight delay due to inclement weather conditions.

The flight, which was scheduled to leave at 5.40 pm IST, left at about 9.30 pm, an airport authority  spokesperson said.

Four of the 16-member squad -- Virender Sehwag [Images], Anil Kumble [Images], Sourav Ganguly [Images] and Parthiv Patel who are playing domestic matches -- will join the team in Lahore on January 7.