Bhubaneswar: Four players from Odisha have been selected in India’s first-ever National Women’s Cricket Team for the Blind for a 5-match bilateral T20 Series against Nepal to be played in Pokhara and Kathmandu from April 25 to 30.
Girls from Odisha, Jhilli Birua, Phula Saren, Padmini Tudu & Basanti Hansda for making it to the India’s maiden 17-member Women’s Cricket Team for Blind for the upcoming T20 Bilateral Series to be played in Nepal.
The Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) has announced the selection of India’s first-ever women’s cricket team for the blind, which will represent the country in the upcoming Bilateral Series against Nepal. The selection was made based on the players’ performances in the recently concluded selection trials held in Bhopal. The Bilateral tour is scheduled to take place in Nepal from April 25th to 30th.
The players’ performances were closely monitored by the officials, including Selection Committee Chairman Mr. E John David during the selection trials. The 17-member squad selected from the trials will go down in history as the first-ever Indian team to compete in the T20 Bilateral Series for the Blind. Speaking on the selection process, Mr. E John David, Chairman of the CABI Selection Committee and General Secretary of the Cricket Association for the Blind in India, stated that 38 players were initially shortlisted for the selection trials based on their performances in the previous national tournaments, and expressed confidence that the selected 17 players form a strong team that will emerge victorious in the upcoming tournament in Nepal.
Taking to Twitter, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik congratulated the entire team besides praising the girls who made it from the State.
Congratulate girls from #Odisha, Jhilli Birua, Phula Saren, Padmini Tudu & Basanti Hansda for making it to the India’s maiden 17-member Women’s Cricket Team for Blind for the upcoming T20 Bilateral Series to be played in Nepal. Best wishes to the team. #OdishaForSports https://t.co/hu821Q4o0I
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) April 12, 2023
President of CABI Mahantesh G. Kivadasannavar too shared his excitement and said this has been an eagerly anticipated moment. ” It is time to showcase to the world that India is proud to have its first-ever women’s cricket team for the blind. I am confident that this is just the beginning, and these women will make us even prouder and inspire many more visually impaired women to play cricket with passion,” he said.
