Sports Ministry Allows Indian Team To Play T20 World Cup In Pakistan Amidst PCB vs BCCI Champions Trophy Rift

The Indian Sports Ministry has given the Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) and the Indian blind cricket team permission to play the Blind T20 World Cup in Pakistan. The development comes amidst the BCCI vs PCB row over the ICC Champions Trophy. The showpiece event is scheduled in Pakistan but the Indian government has refused to send the Rohit Sharma-led side to the country citing security concerns.As per a report in Sports Tak, the Sports Ministry has granted the NOC to the CABI for the Indian blind cricket team's participation in the T20 World Cup which will be played in Pakistan from November 23 to 3rd December. The CABI now awaits a final clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs and External Affairs for the Pakistan tour."It's been 15 days now we are waiting for clearance and we just need a yes or no from the government last time we visited Pakistan was in 2014 for a bilateral series, in 2018 government denied the clearance to visit Pakistan and in 2023 Pakistan team skipped the tournament when it was held in India," said CABI General Secretary Shailender Yadav.The Blind T20 World Cup 2024 will be played in Pakistan for the first time, and teams like Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, South Africa, Nepal, and Afghanistan will participate. If allowed, India will head into the tournament as defending champions. The Blind T20 World Cup matches are scheduled to be played in Lahore and Multan.Meanwhile, the BCCI and PCB have adopted a stern stance on the ICC Champions Trophy. After BCCI's refusal, PCB is reportedly mulling over withdrawing from the gala event. The Pakistan government has also asked the PCB to avoid playing India in ICC or Asian Cricket Council (ACC) events till the issue is sorted out between the two countries at the government level."In such a case, one of the options the government is mulling is that of asking the PCB to ensure Pakistan don’t participate in the Champions Trophy," Dawn quoted a source as saying. The ICC are trying to convince the PCB and have told the board if they decide to go ahead with the hybrid model, they will get the full hosting fees and the majority of the matches. “The ICC has told the PCB that if it decides to go ahead with the hosting of the mega event on a Hybrid Model it would get its full hosting fees and majority of the matches," PTI quoted a source as saying.