Blind Cricket World Cup: Visa issues deprive Pakistan of five players in match against India

Quintet, including star all-rounder Badar Munir, unable to get documents to travel to UAE on time

KARACHI: Five of Pakistan’s blind cricket team players, including talismanic all-rounder Badar Munir, failed to take part in the ongoing Pakistan-India match of the Blind Cricket World Cup as their travel agent was unable to get them a UAE visa on time.

The two rivals are playing their match in Ajman, UAE with five Pakistani players — Munir, Riassat Khan, Sajid Nawaz, Mohsin Khan and Rashid Khan — missing, drastically weakening the Men in Green.

Reserve players from the squad have been drafted in to replace the quintet but the absence of Munir in particular is going to be felt.

“Munir has scored two consecutive centuries and has led us to two consecutive wins so he will surely be a big loss,” team manager Maher Haroon told The Express Tribune. “We are now in a tough situation but we will do our very best. The travel agent sent these players’ documents late, due to which they were unable to get their visas on time. However, they will play the next game.”

Pakistan are currently leading the points table with their two wins in two matches, with arch-rivals India second on four points. The two sub-continent giants are followed by Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Australia and Nepal in that order.