Nepal’s political and administrative turmoil has forced a late shake-up in the planning of the inaugural Women’s T20 World Cup Cricket for the Blind. Kathmandu, which was set to serve as the neutral venue for matches involving Pakistan, has now been dropped, with organisers scrambling to finalize an alternate location ahead of the November 11–25 tournament in India featuring Australia, England, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the United States of America.
The decision to exclude Kathmandu comes after weeks of uncertainty around hosting arrangements, with mounting instability in Nepal making it increasingly untenable to guarantee smooth logistics and security. For the Blind Cricket community, the capital city had been a symbolic choice, a regional hub with proximity to India, where the majority of the competition will unfold in New Delhi and Bengaluru.
In line with protocols, Pakistan’s matches were originally designated for a neutral venue outside India. With Kathmandu out of the equation, organisers now face the urgent task of identifying a replacement city that can both meet security standards and accommodate the tournament’s accessibility requirements. The delay injects new complexity into an event already rich in logistical challenges, given the diversity of participating teams across four continents.
Despite the venue setback, the overall tournament structure remains firm. The Blind T20 World Cup for women will run from November 11 to 25, marking the first-ever global competition of its kind. New Delhi and Bengaluru will act as the central stages for the league matches and knockouts, with the focus remaining on India as the host nation. The event is set to showcase seven teams: Australia, England, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the USA, underlining both inclusivity and the sport’s rapid global reach.
The Blind Cricket Council is expected to announce a fresh neutral venue in the coming weeks, with options within South Asia and possibly the Middle East under consideration. The priority, officials say, is ensuring that Pakistan’s fixtures proceed without disruption while maintaining the spirit of inclusion the championship is meant to embody.
The tournament carries historic weight as the first world-level competition entirely dedicated to women’s blind cricket. For players, administrators, and fans, it represents a moment of recognition decades in the making.
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