India Withdraws From Blind T20 World Cup In Pakistan Due To Clearance Issues

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India's participation in the Blind T20 World Cup in Pakistan has been halted by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), which did not grant the necessary clearance for the team's travel.

Despite receiving a No-Objection Certificate from the Sports Ministry, the final nod from the government remained elusive, resulting in the Indian team's withdrawal from the tournament scheduled from November 23 to December 3, 2024.

Sailendra Yadav, the General Secretary of the Indian Blind Cricket Association, confirmed the MEA's decision to instruct the team not to participate in the event set in Pakistan.

For the first time, Pakistan is slated to host the Blind T20 World Cup with teams from various nations including Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, South Africa, Nepal, and Afghanistan, vying for the championship.

However, this landmark event is now overshadowed by the Indian team's absence, a significant setback given India's reigning champion status. The team's withdrawal follows closely on the heels of the Board of Control for Cricket in India's announcement to the International Cricket Council about the Indian men's cricket team not participating in the Champions Trophy in Pakistan.

India's formidable presence in Blind Cricket, marked by winning streaks in all three previous editions of the Blind T20 World Cup in 2012, 2017, and 2022, underscores the impact of their withdrawal.

The last victory saw India defeat Bangladesh by 120 runs in the final at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, highlighting their dominance in the sport. The Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC) Chairman Syed Sultan Shah mentioned that visas for the Indian players had been issued, indicating preparations for India's participation before the withdrawal decision.

The Indian team, known for its diverse and talented squad across different categories of visual impairment, comprises players from across the country. In the B1 Category (Totally Blind), notable players include Ajay Kumar Reddy Illuri from Andhra Pradesh and Debaraj Behera from Odisha, among others.

The B2 Category (Partially Blind - Vision up to 2 Meters) features athletes like Venkateswara Rao Dunna from Andhra Pradesh and Pankaj Bhue from Odisha. Meanwhile, the B3 Category (Partially Sighted - Vision up to 6 Meters) includes Durga Rao Tompaki from Andhra Pradesh and Sunil Ramesh from Karnataka, showcasing the team's broad base of talent and experience.