Eight officials from Cuba’s baseball delegation have been refused entry visas by the United States government ahead of their participation in the World Baseball Classic tournament, according to an announcement made Wednesday by the Cuban Baseball and Softball Federation.
The visa rejections, which occurred on Tuesday, affect high-ranking members of the Cuban baseball organization, including federation president Juan Reinaldo Pérez Pardo and secretary general Carlos del Pino Muñoz. Also among those barred from entering the country is Pedro Luis Lazo Iglesias, who serves as the team’s pitching coach and is considered a legendary figure in Cuban baseball.
The decision comes as Cuba prepares to compete in the international baseball tournament, though the federation has not provided additional details about the reasoning behind the visa denials or potential alternatives for the affected officials.
