History of Cricket for Blind
Sport for the blind is a rightful pursuit and it forms a platform for physical and social development. With Cricket being such a popular sport, individuals with visual impairment too are passionate about this game, and overcome great odds to play it. Cricket for the Blind was first introduced by Australia in 1920s and made its first appearance in India in 1980. The primitive form of Cricket for the Blind in India was played by replacing the ball with an empty tin and a stick for a bat. The replacement was to enable the visually impaired hear and identify the location of ball and hit accordingly.
Players are dependant on audio cues to execute the game. Eventually, audio ball replaced the empty tin and bats for sticks. Verbal signals are used by players and umpires such as shouting the word ‘play’ while delivering the ball. The balling is done under arm and needs to be pitched at least twice before reaching to the batsman. The game started garnering support in due course and the first National Tournament took place in 1990.
World Blind Cricket Limited (WBC), established in 1996, governs Cricket for the Blind with an objective of promoting and administering the game of Cricket for the Blind globally. The first World Cup for the blind was organized in 1998. After the formation of Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) in 2010, it has been organizing various national and international tournaments in India and abroad and relentlessly working on spreading awareness about Cricket for blind. With the effort of promoting cricket for blind at grassroot level, CABI has also encouraged the formation of atonomus state level institutions that has taken the game to each and every courner of the country. CABD is one such atonomus organisation formed under the umbrella of CABI which was established in the year 2018.