02/26/26 04:09:00
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02/26 16:07 CST Cuba says 8 World Baseball Classic delegation members denied US
visas
Cuba says 8 World Baseball Classic delegation members denied US visas
By CARLOS RODRIGUEZ
Associated Press
Eight members of Cuba's delegation were denied visas to the United States for
the World Baseball Classic, the Cuban Baseball and Softball Federation (FCBS)
said Thursday.
Cuba is set to play against Puerto Rico, Colombia, Panama and Canada in San
Juan, Puerto Rico, during pool play of the WBC, which is scheduled from March
5-17.
Among the Cubans that were denied visas are FCBS president Juan Reinaldo Prez
Pardo and general secretary Carlos del Pino Muoz. Pitching coach Pedro Luis
Lazo was also denied.
A person with direct knowledge said all Cuban players and coaches except for
Lazo received visas. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of
anonymity Thursday because no announcements have been made regarding player
visas. The State Department declined to comment on the Cuban complaint citing
visa privacy laws, but a U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity to
discuss the confidential matter, also said none of those denied visas are
actual athletes but rather executives and officials.
"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 the host countries of such
events" the Federation said in a statement.
The Cubans finished third at the previous WBC in 2023. The team has exhibition
games scheduled next week against the Kansas City Royals and the Cincinnati
Reds in Arizona.
Cuba is among a list of seven countries with travel restrictions to the United
States alongside Burundi, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.
Last year, the Cacique Mara team, from Maracaibo, Venezuela, was denied visas
into the United States and missed the Senior Baseball World Series.
The Cuban Federation said that it "will analyze how to proceed, and will inform
in due course."
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AP Baseball Writer Ronald Blum and Matthew Lee contributed to this report.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
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