Blind Cricket World Cup: Pakistan to Host Tournament Without India Amid Visa Delays.
The upcoming Blind T20 World Cup has found itself at the center of a diplomatic tussle, with the Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC) confirming that the tournament will proceed as planned in the country, despite the absence of the defending champions, the Indian Blind Cricket Team.
According to a report by India Today, the Indian team has been awaiting clearance from the Indian government to travel to Pakistan for the prestigious tournament, scheduled to be held from November 23 to December 3.
While the team has secured a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Sports Ministry, the final approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is still pending.
Addressing the situation, PBCC Chairman Syed Sultan Shah stated that Pakistan had issued visas for the Indian team, but the Indian government denied them permission to travel. “All other teams are coming to Pakistan for the World Cup. If one team doesn’t show up, it won’t affect our preparations,” Shah said, indicating that the tournament will go on without the Indian contingent.
Shailendra Yadav, the General Secretary of the Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI), expressed the team’s eagerness to participate but also acknowledged the need to abide by the government’s directive. “We will go by whatever the government will direct us. If they say yes, we will go and if they say no, we will not go. We just need clarity from the government,” Yadav stated.
The tense diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan have often been a roadblock for sporting exchanges between the two nations, and the Blind Cricket World Cup seems to be the latest casualty of this ongoing conflict.
India, the defending champions of the Blind T20 World Cup, has dominated the tournament, having won all three editions held in 2012, 2017, and 2022.
The situation underscores the need for greater diplomatic cooperation and a focus on the unifying power of sports, especially in events that provide a platform for the differently-abled to showcase their talents and inspire others.
