Visually handicapped cricket team to give their best at World Cup; calls for more support

By Shannon Jayawardena

Sri Lanka’s visually handicapped cricket team yesterday promised to put forward their best effort at the upcoming World Cup but requested more public and corporate support to achieve greater success. 

This year the team hopes to give it their best as they have trained for over a month in order to win the title at the 2018 championship. At present there are approximately 14 handicapped cricket teams in the country from which the national team is selected.

“We try to overcome our disabilities step by step and gain recognition on a global stage. Our aim is to win the world championship someday, hopefully this year, and make our country proud,” said the Sri Lanka Cricket Association of the Visually Handicapped Chairman Chaminda Pushpakumara.

“We have many problems, especially when it comes to physical fitness. Yet amidst these challenges we manage to keep the team together. We really hope that the public will help us and stand up for our association,” he added.

The matches are to take place from the 7-21 January in Pakistan and Dubai. The team, led by Chandana Deshapriya, consists of 17 players who are all-rounders and three officials who will accompany them throughout the series. 

There are six soldiers, four of whom have lost their sight during the war and have competed before. At the inaugural edition of the ICC Blind Cricket World T20 held in India, Sri Lanka finished third after losing to India in the semi-finals. They also went on to participate in the second edition of the ICC Blind World T20 in 2017, which was also held in India and once again competed in the semi-finals, losing to India by 10 wickets. 

In 2016, the team won the merit award at the Newsfirst Platinum Awards for the best performances at the Blind Cricket level and set a world record for the highest ever opening stand, an unbeaten 334, against New Zealand in their opening match last year. 

The Sri Lanka Cricket Association and Ministry of Sports have also acted as salient figures by giving their fullest support to the team. At the press briefing, Sri Lanka Cricket Vice President K. Mathivanan handed over the air tickets and equipment for the series to the team captain.

Mathivanan said: “It is our duty to help people who are underprivileged and disabled and we have been assisting them in every way that we can. All are human beings whether they are able or disable, hence this project gives us the opportunity to help everyone.”