The Indian blind cricket team is relying on the support of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to elevate the game for disabled athletes to a higher level, urging the national board to provide equal treatment to the cricketers as they do to able-bodied players.
Coach Mohammad Ibrahim of the Indian blind cricket team emphasised on March 4 that BCCI recognition is essential for advancing blind cricket.
He stressed that it's not just BCCI recognition that's needed, but also central contracts for blind players from the national board.
PCB has supported them really well: Coach
"If we look at Pakistan, a team that has done consistently well in blind cricket they are contracted players of the Pakistan Cricket Board. PCB has supported them really well, players come under player contracts," he said.
"Like what the BCCI has for normal cricketers -- A category, B category and C category, and all the players are getting paid every month so they play cricket all 365 days of the year, they have to play. In India that has to happen.”
"Now-a-days players are playing just before the series or domestic season like the Nagesh trophy, which is a big tournament here. In Pakistan they are playing round the year. Pakistan cricketers are contracted players and I have seen their fitness levels, their energy, their game," Ibrahim added.
Shailender Yadav, the General Secretary of the Cricket Association for the Blind in India, stated that appreciation and recognition for blind cricketers have grown in recent times.
General Secretary expects government job announcements for players
"Ex-captain of our blind team Shekhar Naik was conferred with the Padma Shri Shri, ex-captain Ajay Reddy became Arjun Awardee in January this year.”
"Hope the BCCI would recognise blind cricket soon, just like other countries like Pakistan, Australia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, New Zealand, England and Zimbabwe," he said.
"Players are receiving financial grants from the Government of India and the state governments, some have got government jobs in Haryana, Kerala, Odisha. We are expecting government job announcements for some more players," he added.
He went on to say that players are now benefiting from financial grants provided by both the Government of India and various state governments. Several players have been fortunate to secure government jobs in states such as Haryana, Kerala, and Odisha.
Shailender also expressed optimism by saying that they anticipate further government job announcements for additional players in the future.
(Powered by AI, Inputs by PTI)
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
Pat Cummins reveals hardest time of his life ahead of IPL 2024, says '..my mind was not in India'
