India set to host first ever Women’s T20 Cricket World Cup for the blind

Brushing aside the disappointment over not being permitted by the government to defend its T20 World Cup in Pakistan, the Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) is looking ahead with renewed vigour.

“In early November next year in New Delhi, India will be hosting the first ever Women’s T20 World Cup for the blind,” said Dr. Mahantesh G, Chairman of CABI, in an exclusive interview with The Bridge.

‘Country first’

The Indian men, who were the defending champions of the T20 World Cup for the blind, were denied permission by the Indian government to cross the border into Pakistan for its title defense on Wednesday.

“The players are extremely disappointed. They were camping in Gurgaon for the last 25 days, they we going through rigorous training,” said Dr. Mahantesh.

That said, he did acknowledge that they had very little choice in the matter.

“Country first, whatever the government decides (we will abide). The players also understand.”

According to Dr. Mahantesh, this is not the first time that geo-political matters between the two nations have impeded visually impaired cricket.

“In 2022, Pakistan also could not make it to India and they were waiting on the Wagah borders that time. So, it’s a similar state of affair for us this time,” he lamented.

‘Love playing each other’

Much like the traditional rivalry between the two nations on the sporting field, the competition is fierce in visually impaired cricket as well.

India is a three-time T20 World Champion in blind cricket, having won the title in 2012, 2017 and 2022.

The team had incidentally beaten Pakistan in the 2017 Blind T20 World Cup in Bengaluru and Dr. Mahantesh acknowledged that both the nations ‘love playing each other.’

Pakistan, the hosts this time around, were in fact keen on renewing the famed rivalry as well.

“They are extremely disturbed and disappointed,” said Dr. Mahantesh.

“There were looking forward to play us. Beating Pakistan was a major interest in our players. One thing we haven’t achieved is beating them in their home ground. So that was one things pending and our players were very well prepared.”

Fit for future challenges

In keeping with their title defense, the Indian team, Dr. Mahantesh said that preparations had begun early this year with training camps in the US.

“We selected the best players, we took them to the US as well, had a lot of conditioning events there. And the last 25 days, they were camping in Gurgaon, closer to the climatic condition of Pakistan.”

CABI had left no stone unturned in its preparations for the title defense.

From hiring a BCCI-certified coach, a physio, booking a turf wicket and putting in place a full-fledged support system, a lot of resources were organized to look after the players.

The disappointment aside, Dr. Mahantesh said that the training will come in handy.

“This preparation will not go waste. They are well trained now and fit and they can take on any challenges now,” he said, hinting at upcoming bi-lateral series’ for the squad.

The next goal for CABI, however, is to mobilize the women and put up a team of substance for the first women’s T20 World Cup for the blind.

“We’re also motivating the women now. So, we would put all our resources and look to the future,” he concluded.