Blind Cricket World Cup: After India's refusal to visit Pakistan matches schedule changed

After the Indian government refusal to grant permission to its blind cricket team to travel to Pakistan for the matches in connection with the Blind Cricket World Cup-2018, the host Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC) has changed the schedule of the matches. According to sources in the PBCC, the matches of the Indian blind cricket team will now be played in the UAE instead of Pakistan.
"Despite efforts of Cricket Association of the Blind in India (CABI) and Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC) of getting clearance of Indian Blind Cricket team to tour Pakistan to play forthcoming World Cup matches, Indian authorities declined to send its blind cricketers to Pakistan," said Sultan Shah, chairman PBCC. "The Indian Foreign Ministry has not denied the Indian Team's participation in Blind Cricket World in black and white but Cricket Association of the Blind in India (CABI) told us that Foreign Office has denied verbally," Shah added.
The delay, however, forced the PBCC to change the schedule of the World Cup at the last minute, the sources said. The Indian blind cricket team was earlier scheduled to arrive in Lahore on January 6, 2018 and the first match was scheduled with host Pakistan at Gaddafi Stadium on January 8. Now, India will arrive in UAE on January 6 and will play its first match against Australia on January 8 in Ajman.
The inaugural match of the tournament will be played between Pakistan and Bangladesh on January 8 in Lahore. The Punjab government had assured foolproof security for the World Cup and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is also providing their bullet-proof vehicles for the participating teams.