Bengaluru, November 12 (IANS). The Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) has announced a 17-member squad for the fourth T20 World Cup to be held in Lahore and Multan, Pakistan from November 22 to December 3, 2024. CABI got the NOC from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports on November 4, 2024, but the team is awaiting approval from the Ministry of External Affairs.
India have scored a hat-trick of wins in the first three T20 World Cups organized by the Indian Cricket Association for the Blind and Samarthanam Trust in 2022 by defeating Pakistan twice and Bangladesh once. This year, Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC) will host the tournament.
Dr. Mahantesh G., President of Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI). Kivadasannavar said, “Facing Pakistan again is an exciting challenge. Visually impaired cricketers deserve more opportunities and we are determined to continue our winning streak. With three World Cup titles already under our belt, We’re ready to make it four and hit another four.”
Earlier, the 26-member team underwent selection trials for 12 days in Gurugram and the CABI selection committee finalized the 17-member team to represent the country.
CABI President Busse Gowda said, “The CABI Selection Committee has selected an accomplished 17-member team with previous experience of representing India. We thank IndusInd Bank for their unwavering support in promoting visually impaired cricket , thanks to which we have been able to select the best players for the country.”
CABI General Secretary Shailendra Yadav said, “The team has been training in Gurugram for 15 days, with full support from Samarthanam and CABI. The players are now waiting for the NOC from the Ministry of External Affairs and are hoping for a positive response.” “
The Indian men’s cricket team is training in Gurugram and will travel to Pakistan via Wagah Border on November 21, 2024, pending the receipt of NOC. The fourth T20 World Cup featuring teams from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, South Africa, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and India will be inaugurated in Lahore on November 22.
The Indian men’s cricket team selected for the fourth T20 World Cup consists of 17 players from different states, classified based on their level of visual impairment. In the B1 category (totally blind), the team includes Ajay Kumar Reddy Illuri (Andhra Pradesh), Debraj Behera (Odisha), Nareshbhai Balubhai Tumda (Gujarat), Nilesh Yadav (Delhi), Sanjay Kumar Shah (Delhi), and Praveen Kumar Sharma (Haryana). Players in the B2 category (partially blind – vision up to 2 metres) are Venkateshwar Rao Dunna (Andhra Pradesh), Pankaj Bhuye (Odisha), Lokesh (Karnataka), Rambir Singh (Delhi) and Irfan Diwan (Delhi). In the B3 category (partially sighted – vision up to 6 metres), the team includes Durga Rao Tompaki (Andhra Pradesh), Sunil Ramesh (Karnataka), Sukhram Majhi (Odisha), Ravi Amiti (Andhra Pradesh), Dineshbhai Chamayadabhai Rathwa (Gujarat ), and Dhinagar Gopu (Pondicherry).
–IANS
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