The Cuban Baseball Federation (FCB) has been informed that the United States Government has granted permission for athletes of Cuban origin, residing in that country, to integrate their team to the V World Baseball Classic, scheduled from March 8 to 21, 2023.
“We have received a communication from the organizers of the Classic in which they announce that the license requested by them has been granted so that team Cuba can enroll Cuban athletes on its payroll, whether they are from MLB or not, who have residence in the USA,” said Juan Reinaldo Pérez Pardo, president of the FCB.
“The communication specifies that they will soon inform the details of the license granted. Once this happens we will be in a position to announce the pre-nom of the Cuba team," added Pérez Pardo.
“If we recognize these gestures as positive steps, it is necessary to point out that they were the only just solution to the issue.
“It is arbitrary and discriminatory that a permit from the United States Government is needed so that the organizers of a sports event can guarantee the participation of a country like Cuba, which is not only the founder of these competitions, but also earned its inclusion by classifying as the rest of the 19 teams that will participate in the V Classic.
“It is equally unfair that Cuban athletes, because those we are going to summon are Cubans, trained in our country and who despite all the pressures want to represent their people, also depend on an authorization from the U.S. government to fulfill their dream of playing for the country that saw them born,” added the FCB president.
“We wish to acknowledge and thank the work of MLB and the World Baseball and Softball Confederation in their role as organizers of the Classic. Cuba continues its preparation”" concluded Pérez Pardo.
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