ISLAMABAD: The Indian blind cricket team has pulled out from the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024, scheduled to be held in Pakistan, after its Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) denied permission to attend the mega sports event.
“We have been told unofficially that the blind team will not be permitted to travel to Pakistan. We were scheduled to travel to the Wagah border tomorrow. But as of now no clearance has come from the ministry officials, so we are a bit disappointed,” Press Trust of India quoted Shailendra Yadav, General Secretary of the Indian Blind Cricket Association (IBCA) as saying.
“We were waiting for the last 25 days to get permission from the government to go to Pakistan. Now we can’t wait any longer as the tournament is about to begin,” Yadav said.
However, Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC) chairman Syed Sultan Shah has stated that all other teams are coming to Pakistan for the World Cup. “If one team doesn’t show up, it won’t affect our preparations,” he said.
The development came amid reports, that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has formally informed the International Cricket Council (ICC) that it will not send its national men’s team to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy.
According to the PBCC the opening match of the tournament will be played between South Africa and the host nation Pakistan on November 23rd at the Ghani Institute of Cricket Ground, Lahore.
The opening ceremony of the World Cup will be held on November 22nd in Lahore. The iconic city of Lahore will host 15 matches of the event, including the opening match, while the historical city of Multan will host 9 matches, including both the Semi-finals and the final.
India had also denied permission for its Kabaddi team to travel to Pakistan, where a match was scheduled for November 19 at Kartarpur.
Earlier, the Indian High Commission had refused to grant visas to most of the Pakistan Scrabble team players, preventing the defending champions from taking part in the Asia Cup Youth Scrabble Championship and Delhi Cup held from November 11-17.
