Published: Feb 07, 2018, 09:26 PM (IST)
Edited: Feb 07, 2018, 09:26 PM (IST)
Cricket Association for the Blind in India(CABI) president GK Mahantesh on Wednesday hailed legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar‘s move of writing a letter to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to consider recognition of the blind cricket body.
Mahantesh told ANI, “I felt delighted when I read the letter; We had met BCCI last week. They have also started expressing their interest to support us. But letter going from cricket icon and cricket God, asking on our behalf to BCCI to recognise Cricket Association for Blind in India (CABI) and support blind cricketers , means a lot.”
Tendulkar in his letter to the Committee of Administrator’s (CoA) chairman Vinod Rai, wrote, “As we celebrate the fourth consecutive victory of the Indian team in the Blind World Cup, I urge you to consider recognition of Cricket Association for the Blind in Indiaby the BCCI.”
He also urged the BCCI to bring the blind cricketers under the BCCI pension scheme for their long-term financial security.
Expressing his gratitude towards Tendulkar, Mahantesh asked BCCI to value the Master Blaster’s letter.
“Now COA is very pro-active and there are very keen to support this. I think this is the right time. All our hard work has come to pay a good reward. And also this will secure blind cricketers’ future. As Sachin sir writes very clearly that it is important for every sportsperson to have some kind of security so that they focus on playing and after they retire, their life is not at risk. So BCCI’s support is very crucial for us,” he said.
The Indian blind cricket team was formed in 1998 and is currently being managed by the Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI), an independent entity backed by the Samarthanam Trust, a non-profit organisation.
