India denied visas to Pakistan blind cricket team to participate in T20 World Cup, claims PBCC

The Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC), on Tuesday, said India denied its team visas to take part in the T20 World Cup in India, scheduled from December 6 to 17.

"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," PBCC said in a statement.

Six teams were to participate in the 12-day event, including hosts India, Bangladesh, Australia, Sri Lanka, Nepal, South Africa, and Pakistan. Pakistan was set to play against India on December 8 after playing South Africa a day earlier.

The council said Pakistan blind cricket team has been left in a lurch owing to the denial of visas.

"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 times consecutively in the last five encounters during two tri-nation competitions in 2021 and 2022 and won both events."

PBCC said there was a high likelihood of Pakistan and India locking horns in the finals of the event considering the current form of the team, and Pakistan had high chance of winning the tournament.

The council said visas were denied to the team on political grounds. "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."

PBCC claimed that its counterpart in India tried to plead with the government over visa clearance, but to no avail.

"Current Indian government's 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 persons with disabilities. This discriminative act will have serious consequences 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," the council said in a statement.