Havana, February 27 (RHC) -Pedro Luis Lazo, the experienced pitching coach of the Cuban national baseball team, described the decision by the United States government to deny him a visa to attend the VI World Baseball Classic as unfair.
“It’s unfair because all of us who were here had something to do in the Classic. Each of us was going to fulfill our role; we had a place where we were supposed to be at that moment, but now we don’t have the opportunity to be in that competition,” expressed the Cuban sports legend.
In statements to Prensa Latina, Lazo, holder of the record for most wins in the Cuban National Series (257), affirmed that all roles within the team are important and pointed out that those who will now travel to the tournament will have to assume the roles of those who cannot be there and try to do the best job possible.
“We already had a good coordination established, with Lazo leading the bullpen, taking advantage of his knowledge, experience, and excellent relationships with the guys,” pitching coach Jesús Bosmenier told JIT.
The U.S. government denied visas to eight members of the island’s delegation, formed to represent Cuba in the VI World Baseball Classic.
The list includes the president and secretary general of the Cuban Baseball and Softball Federation (FCBS), Juan Reinaldo Pérez and Carlos del Pino Muñoz, respectively, as well as pitching coach Pedro Luis Lazo.
Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez, in a message on social media, wrote that this refusal reiterates the U.S. government’s behavior aimed at limiting the development of Cuban sports and its continued failure to honor its commitments as the host country of such an important and globally followed sporting event.
“It aims to prevent our #TeamAsere from competing on equal terms with the other teams participating in the World Baseball Classic,” Rodríguez emphasized.
In an official statement, the Cuban Baseball Federation (FCBS) indicated that “the United States’ response, after more than a month since these requests were submitted, ignores the reasons on which they are based, the most basic principles of sport, and the commitments assumed by host countries of tournaments of this kind.”
The statement adds that citing Section 243(d) of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act as the reason “disrespects the essence of sport and the inherent responsibility of its participants and places our delegation at a clear disadvantage,” and maintains that it is false that Cuba does not cooperate with the United States on immigration matters.
The report also notes that the visa denials add to the complexities that marked the roster selection process, which was subject to different deadlines than those established for the other participating nations. This was due to the organizers’ need for permission from the U.S. government, essential for inviting Cuba to the tournament.
The Cuban national baseball team, which will participate in the World Cup, is currently in Nicaragua, playing a series of four friendly games against the Nicaraguan team, which concludes this Friday as part of their preparation for the competition.
