Karnataka: State Level Cricket Tournament for the Blind

CABI (Cricket Association of Blind in India) an initiative of Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled, a leading NGO based in Bangalore orgonised a curtain raiser press conference to announce ASB CUP Karnataka state cricket tournament for the blind held at IB Ramnagara. The tournament will commence  on 1st of September and will end on 3rd of September and the matches will be played in Ramanagara at  District Stadium and Ghousia college of engineering, in this tournament 12 teams will take part from all over Karnataka and the matches will be played on 20 over format by  league-cum knockout basis to select and prepare a strong Karnataka State team that would participate in the forthcoming South Zone Tournament in November.  The tournament will have 15 matches divided in to 4 groups in the league. This tournament will give bright future to the blind Cricketers, as this tournament is the base for selection of players for upcoming south zone cricket tournament for blind said SP Nagesh, President CABI.

Sandalwood budding actor, Shuba Poojna the Brand Ambassador accepted our invitation to grace the occasion to express solidarity with blind cricket. Her association with the game is not new. She is an ardent fan and had come forward in the past as well to endorse such cause. This as we all are well aware will act as a catalyst to boost the image of the game, which will help the event to succeed. As you, all know that cricket and movies are an inseparable part of our society.

Blind cricket is surviving for the past two decades mainly with support from public sector organizations and some corporate houses. We would like to draw your attention to the fact that the local, State, Zonal and National tournaments were being held for the last 15 years. The I and II Blind Cricket World Cup tournaments were hosted in 1998 and 2002 in Delhi and Chennai with overwhelming support from Indian corporate houses and MNCs. The first overseas series was organized in 2004.  In May 2005 Pakistan Blind Cricket team played a series of 5 One Day Internationals in Delhi to compete for the Indo Pak Petro Cup. India won convincingly by beating the world champions 4 – 0.

The Indian Blind cricket team is the Champion of first ever T20 world cup which was held in Bangalore. While India finished runners up in the third edition of the Blind Cricket world cup held in Islamabad in 2006. Once again last summer with immense effort and contribution from Samarthanam the Indian Blind Cricket team went on a tour of England and returned home after 4-0 series triumph.

The visually challenged are as passionate about cricket as any normal person is. The game is played with a few alterations of normal cricket, it is played with reinforced plastic ball filled with steel pellets thus making it an audio game and covers all the persons who are declared legally blind, the game is played and is keenly followed with passion by the entire community of visually challenged. 

Blind cricket, we would like to let you know is a process of rehabilitation without any commercial implications for the visually impaired youngsters from across the country. It provides them with an opportunity to gain self-confidence, build team spirit, physical fitness and orientation and provide them with an opportunity to travel across the country and the world, thus enabling them to face the world with confidence without being dependant said GK Mahantesh, Managing Trustee Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled .

 We take this opportunity to thank large-hearted patron ASB Builders and developers who have immediately agreed to support us as soon as we approached them in this venture.  We would also request the media both print and electronic to strengthen our bid to highlight a game that is unique in nature and a cause that is going to benefit the sizeable figure of visually impaired youngsters across the country he added.

Speaking to media, Ranjith, GM of ASB group said “We are happy to jon hands with Samarthanam. These kinds of social welfare programmes will boost the confidence of blind cricketers. We want more players from Karnataka to represent Indian blind cricket team.” Looking forward to associate with the origination on a long run.

Source : India Education Diary , 29th August 2013