To participate in the ongoing Blind Cricket World Cup, 34 Pakistani players and officials received approval from the home ministry on Tuesday to get visas.
The approval comes after Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC), in a statement earlier in the day, stated that the squad was placed in limbo since they were unable to obtain visa permission from the Indian foreign affairs ministry.
Following approval, the Ministry of External Affairs will provide Pakistani players and officials visas so they can travel to India for the competition, which runs from December 5–17.
According to a ministry official, the home ministry has approved the issuing of visas to 34 Pakistani players and officials so they can compete in the Blind Cricket World Cup.
Pakistan blind cricket team in the lurch
In the most recent T20 World Cup for the Blind, Pakistan came in second. The Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) has said that it would publish a revised tournament schedule due to the absence of the Pakistani side. The Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC) asserted in a statement earlier in the day that their squad was unable to obtain approval from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs.
“This unfortunate incident has left the Pakistan blind cricket team in the lurch,” the PBCC had said in a statement.
The PBCC said, “it strongly condemns this discriminating act of India as sports should be above regional politics”.
Blind T20 World Cup teams
Seven teams will compete in the 12-day event for the top prizes now that the Pakistani squad has received clearance. From December 5 to 17, India, Bangladesh, Australia, Sri Lanka, Nepal, South Africa, and Pakistan are all slated to compete. The final will be hosted in Bengaluru, however, matches will also be contested in Faridabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Indore, and Faridabad.
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