Afghanistan team arrives in Pakistan for T20 Blind Cricket World Cup

Afghanistan’s blind cricket team has arrived in Pakistan to compete in the T20 Blind Cricket World Cup 2024, marking their debut in the prestigious tournament. The 16-member squad crossed into Pakistan via the Torkham Border on Tuesday. Afghanistan's team will be led by captain Abaseen Selab, with Fahim serving as his deputy.

The squad includes wicketkeeper-batter Sharafat, Farmanullah, Samiullah, Abdullah, Asadullah, Ghulam Khan, Baryalai Sahil, Sardar Wali, Abdul Malik, Ajmal, Rohullah, Dawran, Ezatullah, and Zabihullah. Upon their arrival, the team will rest for the day before participating in a practice match against a local club.

The Afghanistan team is accompanied by a coaching staff that includes coach Sanaullah Khan Marwat, physiotherapist Dr. Shafiq, and trainer Syed Jalal. However, two players are still awaiting visa approvals and have not yet joined the team.

Meanwhile, the South African blind cricket team is set to arrive in Pakistan on Wednesday, and other participating teams are expected to reach by Thursday.

In a separate development, India's blind cricket team has been forced to withdraw from the T20 World Cup due to visa issues. The team had received a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Indian Sports Ministry but was denied permission to cross the border by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Shailendra Yadav, the General Secretary of the Cricket Association for the Blind in India (BCCI), confirmed that despite efforts to secure approval, the MEA has denied permission for the team to travel to Pakistan.

Yadav expressed disappointment over the situation, stating, "We were waiting for the last 25 days to get permission from the government to go to Pakistan. Now we can’t wait any longer as the tournament is about to begin." He further revealed that the MEA informed them that no permission would be granted and that they should cancel their participation in the tournament.

As of now, the Indian blind cricket team will not participate in the T20 World Cup, leaving a gap in the competition.