Hyderabad to play host for Semi Finals of 2nd T20 World Cup Cricket for the Blind on February 10

HYDERABAD, JANUARY 6, 2017: Hyderabad to host Semi Finals of 2nd T20 World Cup Cricket for the Blind on February 10, 2017. It will be held in Lal Bahadur Satdium.

It is a 10 city Tournament to be held in from Janaury 28 to February 12 in 10 cities in India. It will be formally inaugurated in Delhi on Janaury 28 and Finals will be held in Bangalore.

Ten contries including India, Australia, Bangladesh, England, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and West Indies will be participating in the World Cup. The tournament will be played on a league-cum-knockout across India.

Rahul Dravid has consented to be the Brand Ambassador for the CABI. In his video message played on the occasion, Rahul Dravid said, “Disability is the only in the mind. If given opportunities, visually challenged can compete with the abled”, he said. I am happy to be the brand ambassador for Cricket Association for the Blind in India(CABI), Rahul Dravid told in that Video message.

Mr. S. Niranjan Reddy, Vice Chairman Planning Board, Govt of Telangna express his happiness about Semi Finals to be held in Hyderabad. He termed this as a historic event. Chief Minister K. Chandrshekhar Rao has agreed for financial support and the matter is pending with the Sports Minister. Blind don’t need favour but need opportunities.

Speaking on the occasion Mr. Mahantesh G K, President, Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) said Good days are coming back for Blind Cricket. Hyderabad has done lot to blind cricket, he said. Indian squad will have 17 players picked up from ten different states, Mahantesh announced.

We were a one city Tournment in 2013 and 2014. Now we will get more people and more courntries into Blind Cricket. We hope to rope in ten more countries into Blind Cricket by 2020, Mahantesh informed.

We are also introducing Technology into 2nd Edition of T20 World Club Cricket for the Blind 2017, he informed. We will develop apps, so that blind can follow the cricket.

BCCI is yet to recognize Blind Cricket. However, all the office bearers of the BCCI are positive about Blind Cricket. Good days are coming back to blind cricket he said.

We want blind to be tax payers, earn and engage meaningfully in life. Right now near 25000 blind play cricket in India. Our endeavour is to reach 50 per cent of the 10 million blind to play for follow cricket, he said.

In future, we would like to take Blind Cricket to school level and rural areas, he informed.

IndusInd Bank has partnered up with CABI to support Indian Blind Cricket Team

Expenses towards Hosting and Organizing the 2nd T20 World Cup Cricket for the Blind is estimated at INR 8 Crores. CABI appeals to corporates, govt. and people of the country to come forward to sponsor and contribute. All contributions are exempt from Income Tax under 35AC and 80G. Additionally it is also listed under the Para-Sports category of Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative.