“Disappointing”: India's blind cricket team captain breaks silence on T20 World Cup controversy

Captain Durga Rao Tompaki on Wednesday said it was disappointing to miss the opportunity to compete in the T20 Blind Cricket World Cup in Pakistan after India withdrew from the tournament, even as the national federation termed it a setback. The Indian team withdrew from the tournament after the government refused permission to travel to Pakistan due to security concerns. The Indian team was to cross the Wagah border on Wednesday for the event starting on Saturday. “We play with passion, and we represent our country with immense pride. We have always been eager to compete on the biggest stage and it is disappointing to miss this opportunity,” Tompaki said in a media release. “

“However, we know the next World Cup is around the corner and we are committed to our training and preparation.” Before selecting the World Cup squad, the Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) had organized a 25-day training camp in New Delhi.

Tompaki said, “We have had a successful coaching camp and we have seen emerging talent that can take our team to new heights. Now is the time to nurture these talents and ensure that our team is strong when the next tournament comes.” The team should be ready.”

The team initially received a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Sports Ministry to participate in the tournament without any fee. However, it could not get approval from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

“While this is a major blow to the team, CABI fully respects the government's concerns and decision,” CABI said in a statement.

“The team has been training hard and are eager to compete. However, we prioritize the government's guidance and stand by our commitment to the continued growth of blind cricket in India.” “Although the timing of the next World Cup is uncertain, the commitment to the game and the country remains steadfast,” the statement said.

The government has also not given permission to the Indian national cricket team to go to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy next year.

The BCCI had informed the International Cricket Council (ICC) about India's inability to travel to Pakistan and the global governing body in turn passed this information on to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).