India Waits for Clearances as Defending Champions Set to Compete in Upcoming Blind T20 World Cup 2024 in Pakistan

New Delhi, Nov 14 (Dalyan.com) - The Indian blind cricket team is still awaiting clearance from the Home and External Affairs ministries before embarking on their journey to participate in the upcoming Blind T20 World Cup 2024 in Pakistan.

A copy of the No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Cricket Association for the Blind (CABI) was recently obtained by Sports Tak, which seems to be a step closer to India's participation in the tournament. However, the team is still waiting for formal clearance from the Pakistani authorities, leaving their fate hanging in the balance.

In response to the developments, Syed Sultan Shah, chairman of the Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC), has shot back at the Indian government, saying that visas for the Indian cricket team have already been issued and it doesn't matter whether they show up or not. "All other teams are coming to Pakistan for the World Cup," he said in an interview with Geo News. "If one team doesn’t show up, it won’t affect our preparations."

CABI General Secretary Shailender Yadav has expressed frustration over the delay, stating that clarity is needed rather than further delay. In a recent statement to Sports Tak, Yadav mentioned that it's been 15 days since they were waiting for clearance and that they just need a "yes" or "no" from the government last time they visited Pakistan in 2014.

The Indian team is currently the defending champions of the Blind T20 World Cup. The 2024 edition will kick off on November 23 and will go on till December 23, with teams from Bangladesh, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Afghanistan also participating, apart from India and Pakistan.

As tensions simmer between the two nations over visa clearance for the Indian cricket team, it remains to be seen whether India will ultimately participate in the tournament or not.