Published: Jan 30, 2017, 07:31 PM (IST)
Edited: Jan 30, 2017, 07:31 PM (IST)
New Delhi: Defending champions India thrashed Bangladesh by 129 runs in the opening match of the T20 cricket World Cup for the blind on Monday. Electing to bat after winning th toss, India posted a mammoth 279 runs for the loss of just five wickets. Openers Prakash J (96) and Ketan Patel (98) smashed quick half-centuries for India. In reply, Bangladesh could only muster 150 runs for the loss of seven wickets. Deepak Malik picked up two wickets for India. In the second game of the opening day, arch-rivals Pakistan defeated New Zealand by 10 wickets. In vited to bat, New Zealand scored meagre 112 runs from their 20 overs, a target which Pakistan overwhelmed with consummate ease, reaching 117 in just 7.2 overs.
Earlier, a 17-member Indian team was on Wednesday announced for the upcoming second World T20 for the visually challenged to be held in the country from January 28 in 2017. Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) president Mahantesh GK said selecting the team was a tough task and there are 9 players named as reserves apart from the 17 in the team from 10 states of the nation. The World Cup will be held till February 12 and the final will be played in Bengaluru. The announcement was made today after IndusInd Bank launched the ‘World Champions Programme – Cricket for the Blind’.
The programme is in partnership with Cricket Association for the Blind in India – Sports Initiative of Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled, to aid the Indian Blind Cricket Team. Under the programme, the Bank will be supporting the Indian Blind Cricket Team, comprising 26 players.
