The Pakistan team is set to miss the third edition of the T20 World Cup for Blind in India, which begins on December 6. Pakistan was supposed to play with South Africa on the first day of the tournament in New Delhi, but their arrival was delayed due to visa issues.
However, the Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC) announced on Tuesday that the team’s visas for the World Cup in India had been denied. Due to the visa delay, Pakistan’s opener against South Africa was rescheduled, but the PBCC has expressed disappointment over its inability to travel to India for the World Cup.
“Pakistan Blind Cricket Council, with sheer disappointment, would like to update that India has denied visas of Pakistan Blind Cricket Team to participate in T20 World Cup Cricket of the Blind to be held in India from December 5 to 17,” the PBCC said in a statement.
The PBCC claimed that Pakistan had a chance to win the tournament in India, noting that the Green Shirts had finished second in the T20 World Cup for Blind in 2012 and 2017. The PBCC also stated that Pakistan had defeated India in their last five meetings between 2021 and 2022.
According to the PBCC, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs denied the Pakistan team clearance on “Political Grounds.”
“The PBCC strongly condemned this discriminating act of India as sports should be above regional politics, and particularly the Special Persons mega sports events would be treated fairly and all teams must be given equal chances to compete the event. Our counterpart Blind Cricket Association in India pleaded with their government for Pakistan’s clearance but nothing was heard (sic),” it added.
“This discriminating act will have serious consequences on global blind cricket as we at World Blind Cricket will take stern action against them and may not allow India to host future International events,” the statement continued.
On December 7, India was scheduled to play Pakistan at the Sir Fort Sports Complex. Nepal, Sri Lanka, Australia, Bangladesh, and South Africa will compete in the World Cup, in addition to the hosts.
In the first match of the T20 World Cup for Blind in Faridabad, India defeated Nepal by 274 runs.