ISLAMABAD: The World Blind Cricket Council (WBCC) has decided not to hold any future international blind cricket events or tournaments in the United Kingdom, WBC president Syed Sultan Shah announced on Monday.

The decision was taken in protest at the denial of visas to four WBC member countries, including Pakistan. These countries were scheduled to attend the Annual General Meeting of WBC at Birmingham, UK, from Oct 24-27.

“How can we host international tournaments-events in the UK when four of our member countries were denied visas to attend the Annual General Meeting,” Sultan said.

“It doesn’t make any sense that an elected WBC president recognised by the International Cricket Council (ICC) is denied UK visa just on probabilities.”

“It was my fundamental right to chair the Annual General Meeting of the organisation,” he said. “We have boycotted the AGM and have made a decision to not host any blind cricket events in the UK in future till the time I remain the WBC president.”

It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan and blind cricket bodies of three other countries — Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka — were denied visas by the respective UK High Commissions to attend the WBC Annual General Meeting.

WBC, registered in England and Wales Com­panies House, is the governing organisation of Cric­ket for the Blind globally. The member countries of WBC conduct their AGM in different countries.

“We have also informed the BCEW about our decision. I was ready to resign even from the WBC presidentship but BCEW requested me not to do so,” he said.

Published in Dawn, October 27th, 2015

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