India’s men’s blind team is still awaiting official permission from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to travel to Pakistan for the T20 World Cup.
The Indian cricket team will not travel to Pakistan for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025. This has refuelled the tensions between the two countries.
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has already granted the No Objection Certificate (NOC) to the Indian men’s blind team but they can’t participate in the tournament without the permission of the MEA.
The fourth edition of the Men’s Blind T20 World Cup is scheduled in Pakistan from 22nd November. Lahore and Multan will be the venues for the tournament.
Indian blind cricket team has dominated Blind T20 World Cup
This will be the 4th edition of the Blind World Cup. The Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC) will host the tournament.
India has won the first three Men’s T20 Blind World Cups. They’ve defeated Pakistan twice in the final of the tournament and Bangladesh once back in 2022.
Chairman of the Cricket Association for Blind in India (CABI), Dr Mahantesh G. Kivadasannvar said, “Facing Pakistan again is an exciting challenge. Visually impaired cricketers deserve more opportunities, and we are determined to extend our winning streak. With three World Cup titles already under our belt, we are ready to make it four and hit another boundary.
There are different categories in blind cricket. The Indian squad for the tournament includes 17 players.
B1 Category (Total Blind): Ajay Kumar Reddy Illuri (Andhra Pradesh), Debaraj Behera (Odisha), Nareshbhai Balubhai Tumda (Gujarat), Nilesh Yadav (Delhi), Sanjay Kumar Shah (Delhi), and Praveen Kumar Sharma (Haryana)
B2 Category (partially blind – vision up to 2 meters) include: Venkateswara Rao Dunna (Andhra Pradesh), Pankaj Bhue (Odisha), Lokesha (Karnataka), Rambir Singh (Delhi), and Irfan Diwan (Delhi)
The B3 Category (partially sighted – vision up to 6 meters): Durga Rao Tompaki (Andhra Pradesh), Sunil Ramesh (Karnataka), Sukhram Majhi (Odisha), Ravi Amiti (Andhra Pradesh), Dineshbhai Chamaydabhai Rathva (Gujarat), and Dhinagar Gopu (Pondicherry)
