The Indian team is set to participate in the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) World Games 2023 in Birmingham. This will be the first time Blind Cricket will be a part of the ISBA World Games. Karnataka’s Varsha Umapathi (B1 Category) will be the one leading the Indian National team. Whereas Odisha’s Phula Saren will be the deputy to Varsha in the tournament.
The games are scheduled to begin on August 18 and will go on till August 27. This will also be the first time that cricket will be a part of this event.
President of CABI, Buse Gowda said, “I am happy and humbled to address my first Press Conference as a president as Indian Women’s and Men’s Cricket Teams are traveling to Birmingham to take part in the IBSA World Games. We are grateful to IBSA for including Cricket for the Blind for the first time in the World Games. This is the best opportunity to the players to represent the country and continue to be the World Champions.”
Dr Mahantesh G Kivadasannavar, Chairman of CABI said that this is the first time both Men’s team and Women’s team will be a part of the World Games. He further said that now is the time for the Women’s team along with the Men’s team to keep the nation’s flag flying high.
The Indian team will arrive in Birmingham on August 17th somewhere around 10 pm. On 20th August the Indian team will play their first match of the tournament against Australia.
The Indian team toured Nepal in the latter stages of April and early May. Nepal won the first match of the series quite comfortably by 8 wickets. India avenged their loss in the 2nd T20 defeating Nepal by 9 wickets.
Nepal thumped India with rather ease in the next 2 games to take an unassailable lead in the series. The fifth and final match of the series was abandoned due to rain, with Nepal winning the series by a margin of 3-1.
CABI announced the squad of 16 players on 14th June. At that time, CABI didn’t announce the captain and vice-captains for the team.
B1 – Varsha U, Valasanaini Ravanni, Simu Das, Padmini Tudu, Killaka Sandhya, Priya
B2 – Gangavva Neelappa Harijan, Sandra Davis Karimalikkal, Basanti Hansda, Prity Prasad
B3 – Sushma Patel, M. Satyavathi, Phula Saren, Jhili Birua, Ganga Sambhaji Kadam, Deepika T.C
After announcing the squad Mahantesh G. Kivadasannavar said, “This is a proud moment for Blind cricket in India as our team will be participating in the World Games where cricket has been included for the first time. The players will have great exposure from these games and I hope that they will put on a great performance and make our country proud.”
The whole nation will be rooting for the Indian team as they embark on a new journey, something which is unheard of.