The first ever World Cup cricket tournament for the blind will be played at New Delhi from the 17th to the 28th of November, 1998. Seven countries namely Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, England, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and India will be participating.
The tournament will be played on a league cum knock out basis. The top four teams will qualify for the semi finals which will be played on the 26th of November and the finals will be played on the 28th of November. The Honourable President of India, Sri K R Narayanan will be the Chief Guest for the closing function.
The World Cup aims to recognise the fact that every human being has ability, talent and potential, blind or otherwise. It aims to provide the blind cricketers the opportunity to compete at the highest level in a game that they love immensely and demonstrate their skills to the thousands of people who would watch them both on the playing field and on television.
ACBI, the Association for Cricket for the Blind in India is a registered voluntary organisation that promotes cricket for the blind in India with the following objectives.
The tournament is estimated to cost Rs. 1.2 crores (US$ 290,000 approximately). The sponsorship has come from corporate houses like Coca Cola India, the house of Tata, Shell India, HDFC, Hotel Kanishka (ITDC), BPL and funding agencies like Action Aid, Sight Savers and the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
In the eleventh hour with the tournament barely 20 days away, one of our main sponsors drastically cut down their contribution leaving us with a shortfall of Rs. 40 lakhs (US$ 95,000 approx.). ACBI has been able to raise Rs. 15 lakhs (US$ 35,000 approx.) of the shortfall. A further Rs. 25 lakhs (US$ 60,000) needs to be raised urgently. Any kind of contribution to make up the shortfall will go a long way in saving the World cup. The World Cup has come this far due to five years of hard work, sacrifices and commitment. The World Cup has also inspired large number of blind cricketers to dream and strive hard to be part of the event. We would appeal to all to come forward and support the event in this hour of crisis.
Cheques and drafts should be made out in the name of Association for Cricket for the Blind in India, payable at a bank in New Delhi.
George Abraham (geham@del2.vsnl.net.in)
Chairman, World Blind Cricket Council
Association for Cricket for the Blind in India (ACBI)
E-62, Jalvayu Vihar, Sector 21,
NOIDA 201 301, Uttar Pradesh, India
phone: +91 (118) 542191 / 539606
telefax: +91 (118) 539606
For more information on Cricket for the Blind, visit the Society for Communication and Research (SCORE)