Abdul Jabbar Faisal
ISLAMABAD:-The 1st National Blind Cricket Championship for Women started at Shalimar Cricket Ground Islamabad Tuesday (March 8, 2022 on the World Women’s Day) sponsored by Australian High Commission in Pakistan. Four teams including hosts Islamabad, Sindh, Punjab, and Khyber PakhtunKawa (KPK) are taking part in this event.
Nick Hockley, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Cricket Australia (CA), Joanne Frederiksen Australia’s Deputy High Commissioner to Pakistan, Syed Sultan Shah President World Blind Cricket as well as Chairman PBCC and Todd Greenberg, CEO of Australian Cricketers’ Association attended the event.
Joanne Frederiksen, Australia’s Deputy High Commissioner to Pakistan said:
“I appreciate the efforts of the Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC) in taking this initiative, and on this Women’s Day, I am pleased to support a visually impaired women's cricket training and championship as this will provide the women & girls with a disability the opportunity to participate in Pakistan’s favorite sport. We will continue to fund Blind Women Cricket in Pakistan in the future as well”.
The Chairman, PBCC Syed Sultan Shah said that the two blind factory workers invented blind cricket in Melbourne, Australia, in 1922 and it was a highly competitive game which enables people with visual impairment to become people of vision. Forty-four (44) women & girls with visual impairment are participating in this event, shortlisted across Pakistan from Karachi to Gilgit-Baltistan. He thanked the Australian Government for the much-needed support for this cause. He requested Nick Hockley to follow the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) model of supporting Men Blind Cricket there in Australia. “Pakistan’s men blind cricket is the powerhouse in Blind Cricket and it couldn’t be achieved without the financial assistance of PCB, he added.
Nick Hockley, CEO of Cricket Australia expressed his pleasure in watching these visually impaired girls playing cricket that were the source of inspiration for all. “Australia and Pakistan share a passion for cricket, and on this day Australian men's team is playing Test series while Australian and Pakistan Women are competing in World Cup game. Now Cricket Australia will play an important part to uplift the Blind Cricket in Australia, “he said.
Nick Hockley officially inaugurated the event by hitting the audible blind cricket ball. Nick Hockley and Joanne Frederiksen played cricket with the visually impaired girls for quite some time.
