KARACHI: The foreign office on Tuesday "deeply regretted" India rejecting the visas of the country’s blind cricket team, effectively blocking its participation in the ongoing T20 World Cup Cricket for the Blind.
The tournament is taking place in India from December 5-17.
"As a result of the Indian decision, Pakistani players would be deprived of the opportunity to participate in an international sporting event of special significance," the foreign office said. "This reflects India’s insensitivity towards promotion of sports meant for differently-abled persons."
The sports events must not be politicized, Pakistan said, adding that the foreign office had conveyed Islamabad's disappointment to the Indian side.
Earlier in the day, Syed Sultan Shah, Chairman of the Pakistan Bling Cricket Council, announced that the Indian Ministry of External Affairs had denied the Pakistan Blind Cricket team clearance on "political grounds."
He said Pakistan was a serious contender to win the World Cup as it had been the runner-up twice in the earlier two editions of this format in 2012 and 2017.
“The Pakistani team has also 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, respectively."
“It was highly likely that Pakistan and India would have locked horns in the final of the ongoing World Cup and considering the current form of the Green Shirts, Pakistan had a high chance to win the World Cup,” he said.
PBCC “strongly condemned this discriminating act of India,” Shah said.
“Our counterpart Blind Cricket Association in India pleaded with their Govt for Pakistan clearance but nothing was heard,” he added.
Shah said the present Indian government’s “hatred” toward Pakistan also violated the United Nations Charter for Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) which induces States to provide equal sports playing opportunities to Persons with Disabilities, he added.
“This discriminating act will have serious consequences on 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 Indian and Pakistani teams were set to face each other at the Siri Fort Ground on December 7.
“We all know it is a challenge to get visas for Pakistan cricketers. The MEA is working on it and we are confident that by the end of the day, they will get their visas,” Mahantesh GK, the president of the Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) had told journalists on December 1.
