Sports Ministry gives NOC to cricket team for Pakistan tour, big decision amid Champions Trophy controversy

Blind T20 World Cup is to be held in Pakistan from 23rd November.Image Credit source: CABI

The conflict between India and Pakistan regarding Champions Trophy 2025 has started. The Indian government has refused to send Team India for this tournament to be held in Pakistan. This decision has been taken keeping in mind the threat to the security of Team India in Pakistan. In response to this, Pakistan is also threatening not to play any match with Team India in the upcoming tournament. Amidst all this now a big news has come. The Sports Ministry of the Government of India has given No Objection Certificate (NOC) to the Indian Blind Cricket Team to play in the T20 World Cup to be held in Pakistan. This tournament is to be held in Pakistan at the end of this month itself.

NOC from Sports Ministry but waiting for Home Ministry

According to the report of India Today, the Union Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs has given its permission to the Indian Blind Cricket Team for this World Cup. This tournament is to be played in Pakistan from 23 November to 3 December. However, despite the NOC from the Sports Ministry, the departure of the Indian team is not yet decided as it has still not received the final permission from the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of External Affairs.

For the last several days, the team has been waiting for permission from these two ministries, only after which it will be able to participate in this T20 World Cup. The report quoted the General Secretary of the Blind Cricket Association as saying that they have been waiting for the government's decision for 15 days whether they will get permission or not. He told that the blind team has not visited Pakistan since 2014. According to the General Secretary, Team India did not get permission even in 2018 whereas the Pakistani team did not come for this tournament held in India last year.

Controversy regarding Champions Trophy

This NOC from the Sports Ministry has come at a time when the BCCI has informed the ICC that it has not received permission to send Team India for the Champions Trophy. In such a situation, everyone's eyes are on whether the government will adopt different stance for both the cricket teams or will follow the same fixed policy. However, before this, the Indian tennis team was allowed to go to Pakistan for the Davis Cup tournament and before that also for the bridge tournament.