India has been stripped of its hosting rights for the Women’s Blind Cricket World Cup, scheduled for next year. The decision comes in the wake of India’s refusal to issue visas to the Pakistan women’s blind cricket team.
The announcement was made by the World Blind Cricket Council (WBCC), the governing body for blind cricket, which cited India’s inability to ensure the participation of all teams as the primary reason for the decision.
The controversy began earlier this year when India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) denied permission for its own blind cricket team to travel to Pakistan for the ongoing Blind T20 World Cup.
Despite India’s absence, the Blind T20 World Cup is currently underway in Pakistan, with all participating teams granted walkovers in matches scheduled against India.
The Indian team’s last-minute withdrawal has been criticized by some as a setback for the sport, which aims to promote inclusivity and camaraderie among players with visual impairments.
The visa issue escalated further when it became clear that India would not grant entry to the Pakistan women’s blind cricket team for the Women’s Blind Cricket World Cup in 2024.
The decision has sparked mixed reactions from the cricketing community. While some have praised the WBCC for taking a firm stand on inclusivity, others have criticized India for allowing political issues to interfere with sports.
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