Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) president Mahantesh GK confirms that The Pakistan Blind Cricket Team will not come to India to participate in the ongoing T20 World Cup as the players didn’t get their visas.
Pakistan Will Not Participate In T20 World Cup For Blind
The third T20 World Cup Cricket Tournament for the Blind was scheduled to take place in India from December 5 to 17. The tournament is being organised to mark the World Disability Day celebrations universally.
Australia, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and the host, India will play a total of 24 matches in which around 150 players will participate.
“Pakistan team is not coming to India, it is confirmed. They haven’t got their visas,” Mahantesh told PTI on Wednesday.
Earlier, The Union home ministry has given clearance for the issuance of visa to 34 Pakistani players and officials to take part in the Blind Cricket World Cup
“Pakistan Team has collected passports from Indian High Commission in Islamabad today (7th December 2022) around 2:30 PM after receiving the passport collection e-mail from Indian High Commission but no visa has been issued to Pakistan team,” Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC) said in a statement.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had earlier given clearance to Pakistan’s visually challenged team but the visa clearance didn’t come on time from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
“The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has given clearance for the issuance of visas to 34 Pakistani players and officials to participate in the ongoing Blind Cricket World Cup 2022 in India. MHA has cleared names of 34 players and officials of Pakistan Blind cricket team for World Cup in India after scrutiny,” government sources had said.
T20 Blind Cricket World Cup have been played twice in 2012, and 2017 where India won both by defeating Pakistan in the final.
The inauguration of the World Cup on December 5 at Tau Devi Lal Indoor Stadium, Gurugram, witnessed a ceremonial march past by all the participating teams, followed by cultural events and other activities.
