India beat Pakistan to win Blind T20 World Cup

By Abhishek Manroa

BENGALURU, India (TheSportsNEXT) December 13, 2012: Indian blind cricketers kept their nerves to keep Pakistan 29 runs short of the target and win the Blind World Twenty20 2012 title in Bengaluru on Thursday.

Pakistan who didn’t lost a single match in the tournament going into final were flying high with their batting might but this time Indian batsmen stole the limelight before their bowlers and fielders did enough to keep the Men in Green at bay. Enroute to Final, Pakistan defeated teams like England, Australia, India, Sri Lanka, South Africa, West Indies and Bangladesh.

Batting first, Indian blind cricket team scored 258 from their 20 overs with Chetan Patel top-scoring with 98 runs. For Pakistan, Mohammad Jamil, Mohammad Akram, and Idrees Salim all took two wickets apiece.

In reply, Pakistan cricket blind cricket team could only manage 229 for nine thus falling 29 runs short of the target and the Blind World Twenty20 2012 title.

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Pakistan storm into Blind World T20 final

By Abhishek Manroa

NEW DELHI, India (TheSportsNEXT) December 12, 2012: Pakistan blind cricketers put off-the-field events behind to decimate England by nine wickets in the first semi-final of the Blind World Twenty20 2012 in Bengaluru on Wednesday.

Batting first after Pakistan won the toss and decided to field first, England could only manage 181 runs in their innings.

181 runs were never enough to challenge Pakistan blind cricket team, which has been undefeated in the tournament entering into final, as they achieved the target in only 13 overs.

Star of the show was once again the record-breaking Mohammad Akram who scored yet another brisk century as he belted English bowlers all across the park during his 42-ball 103 runs not out innings. Akram was also assisted by the newly-inducted Ali Murtaza, who struck 29 runs off nine deliveries.

Mohammad Akram was also awarded Man of the Match accolade for his innings that made a huge difference in the outcome of the match.

The home side India will take on Sri Lanka in the second Semi-Final scheduled for Wednesday as well.

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CABI Rs1.5 crore short for staging Blind Cricket World Cup

By Bipin Dani

MUMBAI, India (TheSportsNEXT) December 2, 2012: The Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI), which is hosting the first ever Twenty20 World Cup for the blind people is still short of rupees 1.5 crore for the mega event. This was revealed by Mr. Nagesh S, the president of the Twenty20 committee.

Speaking exclusively over his mobile from Bangalore, he said, "The total budget for the T20 World Cup is Rs6 crore and we could manage balance in cash and kind. We have made several requests to the Indian cricket board, but so far they have not responded".

"The BCCI is the richest governing body and we need their support", the general secretary, G. K. Mahantesh said.

Interestingly, Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh, the members of the present Team India have been waiting for the No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the BCCI to support the event.

"We met these players in Sri Lanka during the last ICC World Twenty20 and sought their support", the secretary added.

"Saurav Ganguly has been chosen as Brass Ambassador for the tournament and former players, like Syed Kirmani and B. S. Chandrasekhar have been helping us to host the event successfully", he added.

Chandra, the polio-affected Indian player has always been helping for the noble cause and support from Yuvi, who has recovered from recent cancer illness, can boost the players tempo, the organisers felt.

"Eight foreign teams (Australia, South Africa, Bangaldesh, Sri Lanka, England, West Indies, Pakistan and Nepal) have arrived in India for the 13-day tournament", Shekar Naik, the captain of the Indian blind team said. "Only the two umpires having 100 % vision will be on field of play", the captain, who is classified in B3 category (partial vision upto 6 meters), added.

"Each team will have four players, totally blind (B1 category), 3 players partial (B2 cateogy vision upto 3 meters) and 4 players (B3) cateogy will be allowed on the field of play", he explained.

"The totally blind players will be assisted by the partially visioned players as runners while batting".

Four Indian umpires and four foreign umpires will officiate in the tournament.

"We want to show to the world that we too can play the game", the captain signed off.

The blind cricket associations from Australia, England, South Africa and possibly Pakistan are affiliated with their national cricket boards, sadly, the BCCI is yet to recognise it.

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