Cricket with a difference

Arnima Rao &

Amanda Tariang

Three visually-challenged cricketers from the University of Hyderabad have secured a place in the Andhra Pradesh State team.

P. Chandar Shekhar, chief coach for the Indian National Cricket team for Blind, proudly announced the selection of Ravi, Madhaalu and Kamrudin.

A two day series of friendly matches for the visually challenged students was held on Jan 18 and 19, 2011 at the UoH cricket ground. The initiative was take by a few students like Amer, MBA student, Anil Reddy, M.Phil scholar and Sridhar (not from UoH).

P. Chandra Shekhar inaugurated the event by batting first. He has been an umpire for almost 17 years and coaches the national team presently.

The UoH and AP state players came together to form two teams among themselves and named them as ‘A’ and ‘B’. There were twelve players from the AP state team with two international players, Ajay Kumar Reddy and Sridhar.

Team ‘A’ clinched a thrilling victory in the first and final match whereas Team ‘B’ won the second. Ajay Kumar Reddy displayed his talent by hitting two 100s and a 50.

The special ball used in the game produces a rattling sound so that it could be easily detected by the players. The bowlers have to ball underarm and pitch it inside a line drawn at the middle of the turf. Rest of the rules remain almost the same.

When asked where the Indian cricket team for the blind stands and how far it could reach, Chandra Shekhar said: “It is a far reach for India, because there’s not much promotion of the game here. It is not impossible but it is not growing either. It becomes tough to sponsor every time without anyone’s support.”

“It is for the fun and not for competition that we are interested in. It was wonderful to experience how everyone was enthusiastic to play when Anil and I first told them about the match,” Amer said.

“The DSW played a key role in the tournament. He made things possible and smooth for the students by looking after the funds for the tournament. This time it only took us three days to get permission and other process for organizing the tournament,” Anil Reddy one of the organizers of the tournament told UoH Dispatch.

In the closing ceremony DSW, Dr. B. Raja Shekhar; Director of physical fitness and sports sciences, Raja Shekhar, and P.Chandra Shekhar were present.