Pakistan's blind team withdraws from Asia Cup in India

Pakistan has withdrawn from the Asia Cup for blind cricketers to be held in India next year, following the protests faced by visiting PCB officials in Mumbai earlier this week. The chairman of the Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC) said that it would not be sending its team to India next year for the Asia Cup due to the current sentiments and environment in India.

Sultan Shah told reporters that the team was scheduled to participate in the Asia Cup from 17 to 24 January next year in Kochi. "But after what has happened in India in the last few days, the way the Pakistan Cricket Board delegation has been treated, we have decided they are genuine threats to the security of our players and officials if the Asia Cup is held in India," Shah told PTI. "I have informed the Cricket Association for Blind in India about our decision."

Shah said the PBCC had started preparations for the Asia Cup and the team was also shortlisted, but now the scenario has changed all of a sudden in India. He said that the ICC decision to call back umpire Aleem Dar midway during the India-South Africa series had left the PBCC with no option but to decide that it would be "unfair to send the Pakistan team players and officials to India".

The Pakistan blind team has in the past travelled to India for major cricket events.