07/12/2022
Media Release:
India refused visas of Pakistan Blind Cricket Team to participate in T-20 World Cup Cricket of the Blind
Pakistan Blind Cricket Council with sheer disappointment would like to update that India has denied visas of Pakistan Blind Cricket Team to participate in T-20 World Cup Cricket of the Blind to be held in India from 5th to 17th December 2022.
This unfortunate incident has left Pakistan Blind Cricket Team in the lurch. Pakistan was a serious contender to win the World Cup as Pakistan has been the Runners-up twice in the earlier two editions of this format of World Cups (2012 & 2017) and has beaten the current T-20 World Champion India five (5) times consecutively in the last five encounters during two Tri-Nation competitions in 2021 and 2022 and won both events.
It was highly likely that Pakistan and India would have locked horns in the Final of on-going World Cup and considering the current form of Green Shirts, Pakistan had the high chances to win the World Cup.
As per the available information the Ministry of External Affairs India has denied Pakistan Blind Cricket Clearance on Political Ground. PBCC strongly condemned this discriminating act of India as Sports should be above the 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 their Govt for Pakistan clearance but nothing was heard.
Current Indian Government hatred to Pakistan has also violated the United Nation Charter for Person with Disabilities (UNCRPD) that induces States to provide equal sports playing opportunities to Person with Disabilities.
This discriminating act will have serious consequence on the 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.
