The former pitcher from Pinar del Río, Pedro Luis Lazo, stated that he does not understand why the U.S. government denied him a visa to attend the VI World Baseball Classic, a tournament that will begin on March 6 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Lazo, the current pitching coach of Team Cuba, is one of the eight members of the delegation who were denied visas to travel to the international event. He is not a political official, but has always maintained a stance aligned with the interests of the regime.
"It's hard to understand why this is happening with the visas, because we have nothing to do with political issues, but that's how it is. Those who will be there must take on the responsibility and try to ensure the team fights for a good position in the event," he stated to National Television.
The measure does not affect players on the official roster, but rather coaches and officials linked to the Cuban state sports system.
He, too, a member of the coaching staff, emphasized that the absence of several members affects the organizational structure of the team. Among those who did not receive visas are the head of the delegation, the national baseball commissioner, and the team's statistician.
"We are all important; that's why the organization assigns those roles to all the teams," Lazo stated, emphasizing the significance of each position within the Cuban delegation.
Eight members without visas for the World Baseball Classic
So far, U.S. authorities have not provided public details regarding the specific reasons for the visa denial. This decision comes amid ongoing political tensions between Washington and Havana.
The measure does not prevent the participation of the summoned players, but it does limit the presence of some of the coaching and management staff of Cuban state baseball at one of the most important tournaments on the international calendar.
The World Baseball Classic brings together the top teams from around the globe and represents a highly competitive environment. The Cuba team will aim to advance from the group stage despite the absence of several members from the delegation.
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