Abdul Jabbar Faisal
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will take on South Africa in the opening fixture of the 4th edition of the Blind Cricket T20 World Cup in Ghani Institute of Cricket DHA Lahore on November 23.
The final will be played on December 3, 2024 at Multan Cricket Stadium. World Blind Cricket Council (WBCC) on Friday announced the schedule, as the 7 nations will fight for top honour during the 11-day fixture. The matches will be played in two cities Lahore and Multan. Australia and England teams are not participating in the prestigious international showpiece of blinds’ cricket.
According to the President World Blind Cricket Ltd, Syed Sultan Shah, the mega event will feature blind cricket teams of Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, South Africa, Nepal and Afghanistan. The Indian team will be defending their title in the extravaganza. It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan players were denied visa by India government for the previous edition and event was held without Green Shirts.
The opening match of the tournament will be played between South Africa and hosts Pakistan on November 23 at the Ghani Institute of Cricket Ground, DHA, Lahore while traditional rivals, India and Pakistan, will face each other on November 25.
The arrival of all participating foreign teams will be completed by November 21 and the opening ceremony of the World Cup will be held on November 22 in Lahore.
The iconic city of Lahore will host 15 matches of the event, including the opening match, while the historical city of Multan will host 9 matches, including both semifinals and final.
While talking to this reporter, president WBCC Syed Sultan Shah said that England and Australia would not participate in the T20 World Cup 2024. “They had already scheduled bilateral series. Secondly, their security demands were high which was not possible to manage. Both teams bring their own security personals and they were asking for a big amount, “he added.
