CABI announced the Team for the First-ever Bilateral Series with Sri Lanka
Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) in association with Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled announced the list of blind cricket players representing India courtesy the IndusInd Bank who continue being the prime supporter of the team for the Bilateral Series against Sri Lanka. The series organized in Columbo will be hosted by the Sri Lanka Cricket Association of the Visually Handicapped. Though Team India has faced Sri Lanka in the World Cup matches, this series will mark the first-ever bilateral series between India and Sri Lanka with Team India having played bilateral series with teams like Australia, England, and Pakistan in the past.
Before starting for Columbo, the Indian team will undergo a three-day Coaching Camp from 11 to 13 July at the SPT Ground in Sarjapur, Bangalore. India- Sri Lanka Bilateral Series is scheduled to have three ODI matches between the 15 to 17 July at the Burgher Recreation Club; three T20 matches on the 19, 20, 23 at the Airforce Ground and two T20 matches on the 24 of July at the Burgher Recreation Club respectively.
Following which the Indian team would also be playing a friendly match with the Sri Lankan Army team, consisting of soldiers who lost their eyesight on the battlefield. In fact, few of the former army personnel are also a part of the current Sri Lankan Blind Cricket Team.
The team traveling to Sri Lanka will have some new players exhibiting immense potential and aspirations selected with the sole purpose of encouraging the upcoming talent. After a very long deliberation, the selection committee derived at the conclusion of providing an opportunity for new talents and emerging players. The Selection Committee Chairman, John David further confirmed the news and said, “The tournament is already receiving a huge response from people. It is the first tour of the Indian team to Sri Lanka and we are all very excited. With the intention of presenting an opportunity for the new generation of cricket players we have included ten new players with appreciable skills.”
Mahantesh GK, President of Cricket Association for the Blind in India and World Blind Cricket stated, “We are happy to witness blind cricket traveling borders and showcasing talent. I am glad that the team constitutes all new players and I wish them the very best. This tournament would act as a platform to encourage new talent in the field of blind cricket and help towards the betterment of the game.”
India – Sri Lanka Bilateral series would act as a platform for selecting the new players who would also stand a chance to represent India in the upcoming Blind Cricket Tournaments like Blind Cricket IPL on IPL model (BCL) and T20 World Cup Championship 2020.
INDIAN TEAM
| Sl.No | Name | Category | State |
| 1 | Naresh | B1 | Gujarat |
| 2 | Shoukat Ali | B1 | Uttar Pradesh |
| 3 | Akbar Ansar | B1 | Delhi |
| 4 | Tanumoy Bhowmik | B1 | West Bengal |
| 5 | Golu Kumar | B1 | Jharkhand |
| 6 | Amol Karche | B1 | Maharastra |
| 7 | Ajay Kumar Reddy © | B2 | Andhra Pradesh |
| 8 | Ganesh Muhudkar | B2 | Gujarat |
| 9 | Abdul Munas | B2 | Kerala |
| 10 | Bhaskar K | B2 | Karnataka |
| 11 | Gaurav Singh | B2 | Delhi |
| 12 | Deepak Malik | B3 | Haryana |
| 13 | Sunil R | B3 | Karnataka |
| 14 | Rambir | B3 | Haryana |
| 15 | Durga Rao | B3 | Andhra Pradesh |
| 16 | Lingraj | B3 | Odisha |
| 17 | Dinaharan | B3 | Tamilnadu |
| 18 | John David | Coach |
