Captain Durga Rao Tompaki on Wednesday said he was disappointed to miss out on the chance to play in the Blind T20 Cricket World Cup in Pakistan after India pulled out of the tournament, while the national federation termed the event a “setback”. The Indian team pulled out of the tournament after the government refused permission to travel to Pakistan due to security concerns. The Indian team was scheduled to cross the Wagah border on Wednesday for the event, which was scheduled to begin on Saturday. “We play with passion and represent our country with great pride. We have always looked forward to the opportunity to compete on the biggest stage, and it is a shame to miss this opportunity,” Tompaki said in a press release.
“However, we know that the next World Cup is just around the corner and we remain committed to training and preparation.” The Cricket Association for the Blind of India (CABI) held a 25-day training camp in New Delhi before selecting the team for the World Cup.
“We had a successful coaching camp and saw new talent that we believe can take our team to greater heights. Now is the time to develop these talents and ensure that our team is ready for the next tournament,” Tompaki added.
The team initially received a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Sports Ministry free of charge to participate in the tournament. However, he failed to get permission from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
“While this is a serious setback for the team, CABI fully respects the government’s concerns and decision,” CABI said in a statement.
“The team trained hard and was looking forward to the competition. However, we are prioritizing the government’s guidance and remain steadfast in our commitment to further develop blind cricket in India.” “While the timing of the next World Cup remains uncertain, the commitment to the sport and the country remains unwavering,” the statement said.
The government has also not given permission to the Indian national cricket team to travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy next year.
The BCCI informed the International Cricket Council (ICC) about India’s inability to travel to Pakistan and the global governing body in turn conveyed the information to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
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