Pakistan backed to win Blind T20 World Cup

Pakistan blind cricket team’s assistant coach and former international player Masood Jan believes that his charges have the ability to win the T20 Blind Cricket World Cup which will begin at the DHA Lahore on November 23.

“Yes, we can win it and even we can beat holders India,” Masood told Nukta in an interview from Mirpur, Azad Kashmir, where Pakistan team camp is in operation for the last three weeks.

“There is no huge difference between the teams of India and Pakistan and this time our plan is to dethrone them,” Masood said.

This is the first time that Pakistan is hosting T20 World Cup.

“We have been undergoing training here for the last 20 days and before that our players also played an event in Bahawalpur. It means we have been looking after the players for the last three months and the boys are in top shape,” Masood said.

He said it would be an interesting show between Pakistan and India if both reach the final.

“No doubt India is very good side but we are not inferior to them and on the day the team plays well will win the game,” he said.

“We know strong and weak points of India and this time we have planned to beat them as we have worked on all those areas which we needed to improve. We have been actually working for the last two years,” Masood said.

“Selection has been made purely on merit and top lot has been picked.”

Training schedule

Masood also shed light on Pakistan team’s training schedule and diet.

“In the morning, we conduct physical session from 5:45am to 10am. Then we take breakfast and rest for one hour and then we go to the ground and do training until 1:30 pm. Then comes an hour break for lunch and prayer and then we start again and train until 5pm,” Masood said.

“We are doing unusual training. Our diet is also very good. We have been advised by the Pakistan Blind Cricket Council chief that the players should be kept energized so that they could get proper recovery after hectic workout out there,” Masood said.

Masood has also formed Afghanistan cricket team which will be featuring in the World Cup for the first time.

“Yes, I have formed it. I went to Afghanistan in August and conducted trials at various places including Kabul, Jalalabad and Kunar. The team is good. We have also given it a coach who is my pupil and I will also assist them during the event whatever I can,” Masood said.

Teams and format

As many as seven teams are set to feature in the event whose’ final will be held at Multan Cricket Stadium on December 3.

India will defend the title and they will be joined by hosts Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and South Africa.

The first phase matches will be held at the Ghani Institute DHA Lahore while the show will be shifted to Multan for the last two rounds and knockout stage where Multan Cricket Stadium will host these matches.

The event will be held on a round robin with each team to clash others once in the league phase with top four progressing to the semi-finals.

Will India participate?

Indian team is yet to get green signal from its External Ministry despite the fact that it has been given NOC by its Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs.

If India gets permission from its External Ministry, then Pakistan will immediately issue them visas and they will reach Lahore via Wagah border on November 21.

South Africa, which have got visas, will arrive at the Allama Iqbal International Airport Lahore on November 20 at 8am.

Nepal, which also have got visas, will reach Lahore via Wagah border also on November 21.

Afghanistan and Sri Lanka are expected to get visas on Thursday (today). As per schedule Afghanistan will reach Peshawar via Torkham border on November 16. Sri Lanka and Bangladesh arrival schedule is yet to be confirmed. Sri Lanka is expected to get visas today while Bangladesh is more likely to get visas on Friday (tomorrow).

T20 World Cup history

India hosted the first T20 World Cup in 2012 and in the final at the Aditya Academy Ground in Bangalore the home side downed Pakistan by 29 runs to lift the crown.

In the 2017 edition, which again India hosted, India defeated Pakistan in the final at Bengaluru to defend the title.

In the 2022 edition at Bengaluru India defeated Bangladesh in the final to complete hat-trick of the crowns. Pakistan did not feature in this event due to visa issues.