In another blow to sports diplomacy between India and Pakistan, India has refused to issue a visa to Nepal’s coach ahead of the Blind Women’s Cricket World Cup, which kicks off on November 11 in India and Sri Lanka.
According to the Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC), Masood Jan, a former Pakistan international, was scheduled to travel to India to coach the Nepali blind women’s team during the tournament. However, India’s refusal has blocked his participation, leaving both Masood Jan and Nepal’s team in a difficult spot just days before the competition.
Due to Pakistan’s presence in the tournament, it is being held in a hybrid format. However, Nepal is still scheduled to play matches in India, necessitating a visa for for their coach.
Masood Jan isn’t just any coach—he’s a national sports icon in blind cricket and a recipient of Pakistan’s Pride of Performance award for his outstanding contributions to the sport. He was set to guide Nepal during the Blind Women’s Cricket World Cup for the first time but will no longer be able to follow through. His absence is being seen as a setback not just for Pakistan but for the spirit of inclusion and sportsmanship the tournament is meant to promote.
The PBCC has expressed disappointment over the decision, calling it “unfortunate” that politics continues to spill over into sports, especially in an event meant to celebrate ability, resilience, and unity across borders.
The Blind Women’s World Cup will continue as scheduled, but the absence of one of blind cricket’s most respected figures will surely cast a shadow over the start of the tournament.