The Indian Blind Cricket Team has officially pulled out of the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024, which is set to be hosted by Pakistan, after the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) refused to grant permission for the team to travel, according to Indian media reports.
Shailendra Yadav, the General Secretary of the Indian Blind Cricket Association (IBCA), confirmed the decision on Tuesday, stating that the team would not be participating in the event, which runs from November 23 to December 3.

Yadav explained that while the team had received a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Ministry of Sports, they were still awaiting approval from the government. However, the latest update revealed that the MEA had denied permission for the team to travel to Pakistan.
“We’ve been waiting for 25 days to get the go-ahead from the government, but with the tournament just days away, we can no longer wait,” Yadav said. “When I spoke to the MEA, they informed me that permission would not be granted, and that we should cancel our participation. They also mentioned we would receive an official letter, but we haven’t received it yet.”

Despite the disappointment, Yadav emphasized that the IBCA would follow the government’s decision. He also noted that India would be joining England, Australia, and New Zealand in not attending the tournament.

While India’s withdrawal is a setback, the Blind T20 World Cup will continue as planned. “All other teams are coming to Pakistan, and the absence of one team will not affect our preparations,” said Syed Sultan Shah, Chairman of the Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC).
This decision follows reports that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has also informed the International Cricket Council (ICC) that India’s national men’s team will not travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy, citing government instructions.