India’s blind cricket team is awaiting government approval for the T20 World Cup in Pakistan

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The Indian blind cricket team is still awaiting approval from the Indian government to participate in the Blind T20 World Cup in Pakistan, scheduled from November 23 to December 3, 2024.

Although the team has received a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, they are still awaiting approval from the Ministries of Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs.

According to the secretary of the Indian Blind Cricket Association, the team has been waiting for government clearance for two weeks and seeking clarification on the issue.

The official said that although they have not yet received official approval, they are ready to accept the government’s decision. He pointed out that the Indian blind cricket team visited Pakistan in 2014 for a bilateral series, while Pakistan did not participate in any event in India in 2023.

The Blind T20 World Cup will take place from November 23 to December 3, 2024 in Pakistan.

Could this country host the 2025 Champions Trophy instead of Pakistan?

In the wake of the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) decision not to send its team to Pakistan for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) now faces the challenging task of deciding whether she wants to retain hosting rights or explore alternative options.

PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi is adamant about hosting the event in Pakistan but may have to reconsider if the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) proposed hybrid model, which allows for split venues, fails to reach consensus.

According to media reports, if the hybrid model is rejected, the tournament could be moved entirely to South Africa.

The ICC has proposed a compromise to address India’s security concerns: Pakistan would host most of the tournament, while India’s matches – and possibly the final – would take place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. This model is intended to maintain Pakistan’s role as the main host country while complying with India’s security regulations.

However, Naqvi stated that no formal talks on this hybrid option have taken place and warned against expecting Pakistan to always make concessions. “To this day, no one has talked to us about a ‘hybrid model’ and we are not willing to talk about it. But we have shown good gestures in recent years and no one should expect us to do that all the time. Naqvi remarked at a press conference at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

PCB officials confirmed that the BCCI, citing government advice, officially informed the ICC that they would not be sending their team to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy. This communication was then passed on to the Pakistani government for advice on further action.