The Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) on Wednesday announced its decision to withdraw the Indian team from the fourth edition of the T20 Blind Cricket World Cup. The tournament, which starts on November 22 and will run until December 3, will be hosted by Pakistan. The governing body slated objections from the Indian government as the reason behind its decision.
"While this is a significant setback for the team, CABI fully respects the government's concerns and the decision for the same," the board said in a statement. "The team had been training rigorously and was 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 competing at the biggest stage, and it is disheartening to miss out on this opportunity," Durga Rao Tompaki, the captain of the Indian men's cricket team for the blind, said. "However, we know that the next World Cup is just around the corner, and we remain committed to our training and preparation.
"We have had a successful coaching camp and have seen emerging talent that we believe can lead our team to greater heights. It's time to nurture these talents and ensure that our team is ready when the next tournament comes,” he added.
The decision has come only two days before the start of the tournament and at a critical moment when the BCCI, PCB and ICC are in a tussle over India’s participation in the 2025 Champions Trophy regarding the same issue — Pakistan as the host venue.
On November 9, the BCCI informed the ICC that it won’t send the Indian team to Pakistan to participate in the Champions Trophy. In response, the PCB wrote to the ICC seeking answers about the BCCI’s stance but is yet to receive an answer. However, recently, Mohsin Naqvi, the PCB chairman, said the board is positive about hosting the entirety of the Champions Trophy in Pakistan and won’t accept a hybrid model as they did for the Asia Cup last year.
Meanwhile, the ICC is expected to announce the schedule for the Champions Trophy today (November 20) with still no clarity regarding the host venue.
India have won each of the first three editions of the T20 Blind Cricket World Cups, defeating Pakistan twice and Bangladesh once in the final — the 2022 edition at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
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