Blind cricket

Blind cricket
Characteristics
Equipment Auditory Ball, cricket bat, modified wicket (stumps, bails), various protective equipment
Presence
Olympic No
Paralympic No

Blind cricket is a version of the sport of cricket adapted for blind and partially sighted players. It has been governed by the World Blind Cricket Council (WBCC) since 1996. So far, four Blind World Cups have been held, New Delhi, India (1998); Chennai, India (2002) and Islamabad, Pakistan (2006). In 2012, the first Blind World Cup T20 was held in Bangalore, India. Blind cricket relies on common use of the 'sweep shot', in order to provide maximum chance of the bat hitting the ball.

History

Blind cricket was invented in Melbourne in 1922 by two blind factory workers who improvised the game using a tin can containing rocks.[1] The Victorian Blind Cricket Association was founded shortly after, in 1922, and the first sports ground and clubhouse for blind cricket was built at Kooyong, Melbourne in 1928.[2]

World’s first Test Cricket match for the Blind was played between Pakistan and South Africa in which Pakistan defeated South Africa by 94 runs in the year of 2000.[3][4]

South Africa won first BCWC in 1998 defeating Pakistan in the finals, while Pakistan consecutively won next two BCWC defeating South Africa and India in the finals in 2002 and 2006. In 2014 championship was won by India defeating the two-time winner Pakistan.[5]

Rules

World Blind Cricket Council International playing rules

WBCC International playing rules are classified in 25 classes. Each class has single or multiple clauses, the copy of original document can be found here.

The rules of blind cricket are based on the standard Laws of cricket with some essential modifications.

In terms of playing equipment, the major adaptation is the ball, which is significantly larger than a standard cricket ball and filled with ball bearings. The size allows partially sighted players to see the ball and the contents allow blind players to hear it. The wicket (stumps) is also larger, to allow partially sighted players to see and blind players to touch it in order to correctly orient themselves when batting or bowling.

Various other modifications to the rules apply. Verbal signals are widely used both by umpires and players: in particular, the bowler must shout 'Play!' as he releases the ball. The delivery is required to pitch at least twice when bowled to a completely blind batsman (once when bowled to a partially sighted batsman), but must not be rolling. Totally blind batsmen cannot be out stumped, and must be found to be LBW twice before going out. Totally blind fielders are allowed to take a catch on the bounce.

Segregation of Players

Ball (Auditory Ball) The ball used is significantly larger than the regular cricket ball and is filled with ball bearings that provide audible cues.

Stumps The stumps used are also much larger than regular cricket stumps. It made up of hollow metal pipes, it should have three tubular stumps that is either fluorescent orange or yellow and many more.

World Blind Cricket Council (WBCC)

The WBCC was established in 1996 during an international cricket meeting held in New Delhi, India in September 1996. The WBCC was set up with the objective of promoting and administering the game of blind cricket globally. Today the WBCC has 10 full members namely Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, West Indies,and Nepal. George Abraham of India is the founding Chairman of the WBCC. Under his leadership, the inaugural Blind Cricket World Cup was held in New Delhi in November 1998. Seven countries participated.

Peter Donovan of Australia took over as Chairman in 2004. In November 2008, George Abraham was re-elected as President of the WBCC.

Blind Cricket World Cup

1998 winner South Africa

The first World Cup competition was held in New Delhi, India. The organisers faced a great difficulty when the government of India withdrew sponsorship at the last minute. South Africa defeated Pakistan in the final. India and Australia were the two semi-finalists.[6]

2002 winner Pakistan

The second World Cup was held in Chennai, India in December. Pakistan defeated South Africa in the finals.[7][8]

2006 winner Pakistan

The third World Cup was held in Islamabad, Pakistan defeated India, under the leadership of Aga Shaukat-Ali, the founder of Pakistan Blind Cricket Council.[9]

2014 winner India

On 7 December 2014, India defeated Pakistan in the final at Cape Town, South Africa.[10]

T20 Blind Cricket World Cup

2012 winner India

The first T20 Blind Cricket World Cup was held at Aditya Academy Ground in Bangalore, India in 2012. India defeated Pakistan by 29 runs in the final.[11]

2017 winner India Main Article:2017 Blind T20 World Cup

On 12 February 2017, India defeated Pakistan in the final at Bengaluru, India.[12]

Regional organizations

British Blind Sport

The founding members of the British Blind Sport organisation were cricketers, and the association is the administrative body for the sport within the United Kingdom.

Blind Cricket New South Wales (BCNSW)

Blind Cricket New South Wales (BCNSW) is the home of blind cricket in New South Wales.

Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI)[13]

Starting 2011, Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) is in place of Association for Cricket for the Blind India (ACBI) set up in 1996. George Abraham is the founder of the registered voluntary body. Its objectives are to use competitive cricket to teach the blind to look at life positively, gain in confidence and strive to be winners rather than dependents; and to use the game as a medium to transmit the message of ability and talent to the society. The ACBI organised the first two Blind Cricket World Cups in 1998 and 2002.

CABI is the apex body that organizes and conducts cricket for blind across India. CABI is a sports initiative of Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled. It is a registered Non Profit Organization, affiliated to the World Blind Cricket Council (WBCC). Conferred the hosting rights of the First Ever T – 20 World Cup in Bangalore in November /December 2012. The primary goal of CABI:

Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC)

In 1997, Agha Shoukat Ali laid the foundation for the development of cricket for the blind in Pakistan named ‘Pakistan Blind Cricket Council’ (PBCC). Agha Shoukat Ali, the founder and life and soul of cricket for the blind in Pakistan, also represented the country in August 1996 the first International Conference on Cricket for the Blind which was held in Delhi, India, in which seven countries from all over the World participated. The Pakistan Blind Cricket Council is registered and affiliated with the World Blind Cricket Council (WBCC) and is its permanent member. The PBCC attends all the International Conferences and is playing its part practically.

From 1997 onwards many registered clubs have come into existence and are affiliated with the Pakistan Blind Cricket Council. Cricket is now played regularly in schools among the blind. Tournaments are regularly organized in different cities of the country so that the blind may be able to meet, exchange information and have some fun. Rules similar to ‘sighted cricket’ are observed for cricket for the blind whenever it is played and efforts are being made to spread this all over the country.

In 2002 Government of Punjab allocated 45 Kanal space for the construction of Cricket stadium and facilities for PBCC. On construction it will be the first Cricket stadium built for Blind Cricketers.

Victorian Blind Cricket Association (VBCA)

The Victorian Blind Cricket Association (VBCA) is the home of blind cricket in Victoria. Blind cricket was invented in Melbourne in 1922. The world's first sports ground and clubhouse for blind people was developed at Kooyong, Victoria in 1928 and is still used today as the home of the VBCA.

The Association now has four clubs with approximately 70 vision-impaired and blind members and several volunteers.

Current clubs:

The Victorian Blind Cricket Association is located in the Charlie Bradley Pavilion, at the rear of 454 Glenferrie Road, Kooyong VIC 3144 (opposite the Kooyong Tennis Stadium Kooyong Stadium). Games are played on Saturday afternoons from October through to March and spectators are most welcome.

The VBCA provides an important role in the community by developing and providing opportunities for people who are blind or vision impaired to enjoy the recreational and social benefits of cricket. Additionally, the VBCA participates in cricket matches against sighted opposition in keeping with the philosophy of integration and working to remove barriers and isolating influences of having limited vision.

The ongoing aims and objectives of the VBCA are as follows:

Regional competitions

Australia

Blind cricket is widely played in Australia, with teams playing regular fixtures in the states of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia, as well as in the Australian Capital Territory. Every two years State cricket teams meet for the Australian Blind Cricket Championships. The 31st National Blind Cricket Championships was held in Queensland in 2012.

Pakistan

The first regular match for the blind was played in Karachi in 1978 between Lahore and IDA RIEU School, Karachi. During this period several matches were played at school level. The PBCC has organized eight (8) major National Tournaments besides Two Double-Wicket Tournaments since it is established in 1997.

England v Australia

The first blind cricket "Ashes" competition was held in England in August 2004. Five one-day matches were played, with England winning the Ashes by three games to two. A return series of five matches was held in Sydney, Australia, in December 2008, resulting in a controversial 3-0 victory for England.[14] Australia was victorious in a 2012 contest[15] but England regained the ascendancy in 2016.[16]

United Kingdom

Two domestic competitions are run: the two-division BBS Cricket League, based around single-innings matches played around the country throughout the cricket season; and the BBS Primary Club National Knockout Cup, a knockout competition of limited-overs matches held each August at Lord's Cricket Ground.

South Africa

South Africa had its 40 over national blind cricket championship in 2014 held in Cape town. Northers Blind Cricket club won the tournament in fine style by taking 50 wickets in 5 games, not allowing any of its competition to bat throughout the innings. Pretoria Transnet Blind Cricket Club is South Africa's biggest blind cricket club. They played a friendly T20 blind cricket match against The South African Indoor team and local abled body teams. Follow them www.ptbcc.com .]].

India

Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled & Cricket Association for the Blind in India[17] (CABI organizes state, zonal, national and international level cricket tournaments for the blind. The state level cricket tournaments are organized to select the best state team to participate in their respective zones (north, east, west and south). Zonal matches are held by Samarthanam and CABI by identifying local partners, including private and government bodies which affiliate with the organizers, lending their support to the tournament. The winners of the zonal matches play league matches to qualify for the finals.

References

  1. ↑ "Museum Victoria. Collection notes on cane wicker cricket ball". Retrieved 5 December 2012.
  2. ↑ "Victorian Blind Cricket Association: About Us". Archived from the original on 1 November 2012. Retrieved 5 December 2012.
  3. ↑ "Gauteng Cricket Board - Blind Cricket". GCB. Retrieved 2017-03-31.
  4. ↑ "Pakistan Blind Cricket Council". static.espncricinfo.com. Retrieved 2017-03-31.
  5. ↑ "India beat Pakistan to win Blind Cricket World Cup". Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  6. ↑ World Cup Cricket for the Blind at Cricinfo, November 1998. Accessed 2 June 2016
  7. ↑ Pakistan emerge Blind World Cup champions at Chennai at Cricinfo, 14 December 2002. Accessed 2 June 2016
  8. ↑ Petro World Cup Cricket for the Blind, 2002 Accessed 2 June 2016
  9. ↑ Comment: Blind Cricket World Cup—a fascinating experience, Dawn 16 January 2015. Accessed 2 June 2016
  10. ↑ Mehta, Rutvick. World Cup win finally brings India's blind cricket team in the spotlight. DNA India 14 December 2014.Accessed 2 June 2016
  11. ↑ "India Beat Pakistan To Win Blind Cricket T20 World Cup". CricketWorld. 13 December 2012. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  12. ↑ "Keeping your ear on the ball". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
  13. ↑ "Welcome to the Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) | Cricket Association for the Blind in India". www.blindcricket.in. Retrieved 2016-02-06.
  14. ↑ Jamieson, Alastair. Controversy over England blind cricket team's victory over Australia. Daily Telegraph 17 December 2008
  15. ↑ Page, Fleta. Ashes team's hard-urned success, Canberra Times, 23 June 2012
  16. ↑ England VI wrap up ODIs with a win at ecb.co.uk, 29 January 2016
  17. ↑ CCABI Gives Vision to One’s Hazy Dreams
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