The Indian blind cricket team is still awaiting clearance from the government to play their scheduled matches in the 5th edition of the Blind Cricket World Cup in Pakistan.
"The current situation in Pakistan is not good. We are still awaiting clearance from the government for playing in Pakistan. The team is going to Dubai for now but if we don't get the clearance, we have a plan B - that is to play our matches in UAE instead," GK Mahantesh, President of the Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI), told mediapersons in a press conference here on Thursday.
As per the official schedule of the tournament, India is scheduled to play its matches in UAE but the Final of the tournament is slated to take place at the Gaddafi stadium in lahore - with the proviso that if the Indian team isn't given the clearance to travel to Pakistan, the venue would be shifted to Sharjah.
The Indian team is the defending champion in the tournament and have enjoyed great success in last couple of years. They had won the Blind T20 World Cup played in India last year as well.
Mahantesh also said, in response to a question, that they are yet to receive any help from the government so far in relation to this tournament and thanked the sponsors for their support.
"We have been trying to reach the Sports minister and our people have called his office a 1000 times but are yet to get through to him. Former minister Vijay Goel once told us that we would be officially recognized the next day but that day is yet to come. Getting recognition would be helpful to us as many of our players have to take leave and forego their salary to take part in the event. For the World Cup, things are fine because of the help we have got from our sponsors," Mahantesh added.
The captain of the Indian team Ajay Kumar Reddy also echoed the same sentiments and said it would be great if the BCCI takes blind cricket under its wings.
"BCCI should help blind cricket. They should have a budget for the game and issue annual grants. This would help blind cricket in a big way as youngsters would get encouragement to play this sport.
"There is so much passion for the game in the country. Many of our players don't have jobs but they still play the game because they love it. The government should also help us more so that players can see the sport as a viable career option," the 27-year old from Guntur asserted.