Pakistan won the Blind T20 Cricket World Cup trophy after defeating Bangladesh by 10 wickets in the final at Multan Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
Batting first, Bangladesh put a modest total of 139 on the board for the loss of seven wickets, with Arif Hossain emerging as the top run-scorer with 54 runs.
Pakistan bowler Babar Ali took three scalps, while Matiullah and Mohammad Salman grabbed a wicket each.
Pakistan’s blind side reached the target of 140 in just 11 overs without a hitch. A sustained partnership between openers Nisar Ali (72) and Mohammad Safdar (47) guided the Green Shirts to a 10-wicket win.
The victory marked a historic achievement for Pakistan, as they lifted the T20 World Cup for the first time in the tournament’s history.
The competition, which began in 2012, has seen India dominate previous editions, with the Men in Blue winning the title in all three previous tournaments.
The first edition, held in India in 2012, saw India defeat Pakistan by 29 runs in the final. The second edition in 2017 also saw India triumph, this time by 9 wickets over their neighbours.
The third edition, held in India in 2022, saw India win the trophy again, this time defeating Bangladesh in the final.
However, this year, Pakistan broke the trend, lifting the trophy in the fourth edition of the T20 World Cup, held in its home country. Their victory over Bangladesh not only ended India’s dominance but also marked a milestone in the history of blind cricket.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi congratulated the Pakistan Blind Cricket Team for winning the T20 World Cup final.
“The players showed exceptional performance throughout the tournament and earned the honor of becoming World T20 Champions,” Naqvi said.
Naqvi praised the team’s efforts and highlighted the outstanding batting performance of skipper Nisar Ali and Mohammad Safdar which ensured victory in the final.
The Chairman of the Board of Directors also extended his congratulations to the team’s management, acknowledging their role in the team’s success.
“The blind cricket team showed remarkable dedication and teamwork in every match in the tournament,” Naqvi said.
He expressed his hope that the team would continue to play in the same spirit and achieve more success in the future.