Image: India Withdraws from Blind T20 World Cup in Pakistan / © Republic World
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has given a No-Objection Certificate for the Indian team to participate in the 4th Men’s Blind T20 World Cup, which will be held from November 22 to December 4. However, the team cannot travel to Pakistan without clearance from the Ministry of External Affairs.
The Indian government’s decision to deny the Blind Cricket team permission to travel to Pakistan is in line with the BCCI position on not sending the men’s cricket team to the Champions Trophy in Pakistan. It is unlikely that the Champions Trophy will take place without India’s participation.
The general secretary of the Indian Blind Cricket Association, Shailendra Yadav, confirmed that the Ministry of External Affairs denied travel permission for the team. He stated that they were not given clearance and that the association decided to withdraw based on this verbal communication.
Shailendra Yadav mentioned that India, along with England, Australia and New Zealand, will not participate in the Blind T20 World Cup. He said the players’ hard work go to waste. Shailendra added that the absence of these teams would give Pakistan a walkover and explained that the decision was made due to the lack of time, as the team was supposed to depart on November 20.