Blind cricket body in talks with BCCI

The Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) is in talks with the BCCI to seek ways to improve the conditions for blind cricketers.

Published : Feb 09, 2018 18:44 IST , MUMBAI

The Indian blind cricket team has two World Cup titles and two T-20 World Cup titles to its name.
The Indian blind cricket team has two World Cup titles and two T-20 World Cup titles to its name.
lightbox-info

The Indian blind cricket team has two World Cup titles and two T-20 World Cup titles to its name.

Less than three weeks after India lifted the Blind Cricket World Cup, the governing body of visually impaired cricket in India is in dialogue for being recognised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), according to G. K. Mahantesh, the president of the Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI).

“We have had fruitful discussions with CoA chairman Vinod Rai and CEO Rahul Johri over the last week and we just hope that the discussions materialise in the BCCI lending a helping hand to the visually impaired cricket movement in India,” Mahantesh told reporters on Friday.

READ: Tendulkar urges BCCI to recognise India’s blind cricket body

While clarifying that he and his colleagues at CABI would prefer to “retain the autonomy” of CABI, Mahantesh spelt out three primary areas wherein the BCCI can play a huge role.

“We feel the BCCI can help us out on three main counts. Financial security to current and former blind cricketers since most of them struggle to make ends meet all their life. Availability of training and match facilities, it would help the blind cricketers immensely. And all the blind cricketers are huge fans of some of the big names in the cricket fraternity, so if the BCCI can initiate a few interactions with them, it will be a huge morale-booster,” said Mahantesh, who also heads the World Blind Cricket.

According to him, the England and Wales Cricket Board and the Pakistan Cricket Board support their blind cricketers in every way possible, including even handing over central contracts.

Last month, India beat Pakistan in Sharjah to be crowned the World champion yet again. The blind cricketers have also won the Twenty20 World Cup twice. Legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar has also supported the blind cricket movement.

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment