The World Blind Cricket Council (WBCC) has confirmed that the upcoming Blind Women’s T20 World Cup 2025 will not take place in India; instead, it will be hosted at a neutral venue.
The decision was taken during the 26th General Council meeting of the WBCC at a local hotel in Multan, with representatives from the cricket boards of Australia, South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Afghanistan in attendance.
Meanwhile, officials from India, England, and New Zealand participated online.
During the meeting, Syed Sultan Shah, Chairman of the Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC) was re-elected as the President of the WBCC for a two-year term, while India’s Rajanish Henry was elected as the Secretary-General.
India was initially selected to host the upcoming Blind Women’s T20 World Cup 2025, but ongoing challenges, including logistical and administrative hurdles, have prompted the WBCC to shift the tournament to a neutral location.
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“Both Pakistan and India are leading teams in the world of blind cricket, but visa restrictions have hindered their ability to compete against each other. Hosting events at neutral venues is the most practical solution to this issue,” Shah stated.
In recent times, the two neighbouring countries have been at loggerheads due to the Indian government’s refusal to send its cricket teams to Pakistan.
The focal point of this dispute is the upcoming International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions Trophy 2025, which has garnered significant attention due to the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) refusal to send its team to Pakistan for the tournament.
In response, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has now proposed a new ‘Partnership or Fusion Formula,’ aimed at resolving the ongoing standstill regarding the ICC Champions Trophy.
Additionally, the government of India has prohibited its cricket team from travelling to Pakistan for the Blind Men’s Cricket T20 World Cup, further intensifying the complexities surrounding cricket diplomacy between the two countries.
READ: Champions Trophy 2025: PCB proposes Partnership or Fusion Formula