The Cricket Association of India for the Blind (CABI) on Wednesday announced that it was withdrawing the team from the fourth edition of the T20 Blind Cricket World Cup, scheduled to be held in Pakistan, after failing to obtain permission from the Indian government for the team to travel to Pakistan.
The tournament is scheduled to begin on November 22 and continue until December 3.
“While this is a significant setback for the team, CABI fully respects the government’s concerns and the decision made on this matter,” the board said in a statement. “The team had trained rigorously and was eager to compete. However, we are prioritizing the government’s advice and remaining 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 always look forward to competing on the biggest stage, and it is disheartening to miss this opportunity,” said Durga Rao Tompaki, captain of the Indian men’s team cricket. team for the blind, said. “However, we know that the next World Cup is fast approaching and we remain committed to our training and preparation.
“We had a successful coaching camp and saw talents emerge that we believe can lead our team to greater heights. It is time to nurture those talents and ensure our team is ready when the next tournament.”
This development comes 100 days before the start of the 2025 Champions Trophy, which will also be held in Pakistan. On November 9, the BCCI had informed the ICC that India would not travel to Pakistan for the tournament – again, a decision taken on the advice of the Indian government.
The Champions Trophy schedule was initially scheduled to be released by the ICC today.
India hosted and won the first three T20 Blind Cricket World Cups, beating Pakistan in the final of the first two editions and Bangladesh in their most recent triumph.
