The Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) on Wednesday announced that it is withdrawing the team from the fourth edition of the T20 Blind Cricket World Cup scheduled to be held in Pakistan after it failed to secure the approval of the Indian government for teams to travel to Pakistan.
The tournament starts on November 22nd and continues until December 3rd.
“While this is a significant setback for the team, CABI fully respects the government’s concerns and the decision on the same,” the board said in a statement. “The team had trained rigorously and were eager to compete. However, we prioritize the government’s guidance and remain steadfast in our commitment to the continued development of Blind Cricket in India.”
“We play with passion and we represent our country with immense pride. We have always looked forward to compete on the biggest stage and it is disheartening to miss this opportunity,” Durga Rao Tompaki, the captain of the Indian men’s cricket team . team for the blind, said. “But we know the next World Cup is just around the corner and we remain committed to our training and preparation.
“We’ve had a successful training camp and have seen new talent that we believe can lead our team to greater heights. It’s time to nurture that talent and ensure our team is ready when the next tournament comes.”
The development comes 100 days before the start of the 2025 Champions Trophy, which is also to be held in Pakistan. On 9 November, the BCCI had informed the ICC that India will not travel to Pakistan for the tournament – again a decision taken on the advice of the Indian government.
The Champions Trophy schedule was initially expected to be released by the ICC today.
India had hosted and won the first three T20 Blind Cricket World Cups, beating Pakistan in the finals in the first two editions and Bangladesh in their most recent triumph.
