New Delhi: The Indian blind cricket team was cleared to visit Pakistan for the T20 World Cup by the Sports Ministry but the 17-member squad still awaits clearance from the Home and External Affairs ministries.
Team India, the reigning champions, is scheduled to tour its neighbouring country for the fourth edition of the Blind World Cup, set to be played at Lahore and Multan from November 22 to December 3.
After receiving the required clearances, India’s Blind cricket squad is scheduled to travel to Pakistan via the Wagah Border on Thursday, November 21.
The development comes amid the ongoing row between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board. The Indian Cricket Board has informed PCB that Team India will not travel to the neighbouring country for the marquee ICC event.
The BCCI, on Sunday, sent an email to the International Cricket Council (ICC) about their decision, leaving the future of the ICC event in jeopardy.
CABI awaits positive response
Shailender Yadav, General Secretary of the Cricket Association for Blind in India (CABI) revealed that the squad was picked after 26 players went through a 12-day selection trial in Gurugram. He also sounded hopeful of getting clearance from the Ministry of External Affairs.
The tournament features teams from India, Pakistan Afghanistan, Bangladesh, South Africa, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
India are the three-team defending champions, defeating Pakistan twice and Bangladesh once.
Tournament to go as planned
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC) said the event will go as per the plans irrespective of India’s participation. According to PBCC chairman Syed Sultan Shah, all the necessary arrangements for the tournament have been made.
The inaugural Blind T20 World Cup was held in Bangalore in 2012 which India won by beating Pakistan in the final. The second edition was also held in India in 2017. The host nation again won the tournament, beating Pakistan by 9 wickets in the summit clash.
In the most recent edition in 2022, India crushed Bangladesh by 120 runs in the final at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
Blind T20 WC: The development comes amid the ongoing row between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
