London
In a heartwarming demonstration of sportsmanship, the England Cricket Board (ECB) has shown its support for the Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) by subsidizing their accommodation costs ahead of the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) World Games 2023 in Birmingham. The Indian men’s and women’s blind cricket teams have arrived at the World Games Village at Birmingham University for the historic IBSA World Games, where blind cricket is being featured for the first time. The journey to Birmingham was filled with challenges, including limited financial resources, but the benevolent gesture from ECB has provided much-needed assistance to the Indian blind cricket teams. CABI officials expressed their gratitude to the ECB and IndusInd Bank for their support, highlighting the spirit of sportsmanship and camaraderie. They also expressed hope that other cricket boards, including the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), would take similar steps to support their blind cricket teams in the future. With their debut matches approaching, both the Indian men’s and women’s blind cricket teams are eager to showcase their talent on the field. The Indian women’s team is set to play against Australia in their opening match, while the men’s team will face Pakistan on the same day. This momentous participation in the global sports competition marks a significant achievement for blind cricket, and CABI Chairman Mahantesh G Kivadasannavar emphasized its potential to change perspectives and align players globally with sporting events.
