Lanka blind cricketers leave for World Cup 2018
The Blind National Cricketers will leave for Dubai early January to take part in the Blind Cricket World Cup which will be held there from January 7 to 25, 2018. The 5th such World Cup for the visually impaired is being organized by the Pakistan Blind Cricket Council with matches to be held in Ajman (UAE) and the final to be held in Pakistan.
Led by Captain Deshapriya, a team of 16 players and 4 officials have been selected and will represent Sri Lanka in the tournament. Other countries participating include Australia, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Nepal. This is Nepal’s first appearance in the tournament.
Past tournaments have produced players who have placed Sri Lanka in the international limelight with their landmark achievements. Some of the milestones include defeating England at an international tournament for the first time in the history of blind cricket during the Second World Cup in Chennai in 2002 with a team player winning the ‘Man of the Match’ award, obtaining the third in the world cricket ranking during the world’s first international 20/20 blind cricket series held in India in 2012, I.P. Saman Kumara becoming the best bowler during the fourth World Cup in South Africa in 2014,Suranga Sampath obtainined a world record with his 5 Centuries in 5 innings with the not out in the world’s internation- al 20/20 Blind Cricket Series held in India in 2017.
The history of Blind Cricket in Sri Lanka dates back to 1952with the first match being played with the participation of the then Hon Prime Minister D. S. Senanayaka. The development of the sport happened gradually from then on.
Dilmah has supported Blind Cricket in Sri Lanka since 2005, in keeping with its Founder Merrill J. Fernando’s philosophy of making business a matter of human service. It also sponsors the annual Dilmah Challenge Trophy – a national Blind Cricket Tournament to facilitate social inclusion of the visually impaired and promote sports for People with Disabilities. In partnership with the Sri Lanka Cricket Association of the Visually Handicapped, the 2017 tournament - the 6th Dilmah Challenge Trophy Blind National Cricket Tournament was played between June 3 and August 18 2017. Eleven teams from across Sri Lanka and the armed forces with a passion for cricket showcased their talents. Subsequently, the tournaments best players were selected for the National Blind Cricket Team for the Blind Cricket World Cup.