Bengaluru: Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) announced the list of 38 Women Cricketers for Selection trials to select the Indian Blind Women’s Cricket Team for Bilateral Series against Nepal. The players were selected based on their performances of the two previous women’s National tournament held in 2022 and 2023. The Bilateral tour will be held in Nepal from April 25 to 30.
Five-day selection trials will be held in Bhopal from March 26 at Faith Cricket Club in which the probables will be trimmed down to 17 players who will be representing the country in the historic series. This is a huge step towards the efforts of initiating and involving women in inclusive sports in order to empower them and pave a way for a career in the sport.
Speaking on the announcement, Dr Mahantesh G. Kivadasannavar, President of CABI said, “This is going to be a historic decision in women’s blind cricket as they will always be remembered as the first team who represented the country. We have good plans to introduce more bilateral tours such as this for our girls so that they can also think of making the sport as a career and CABI along with Samarthanam Trust will do everything possible to empower these girls. We are happy to announce the names of the players on the eve of the women’s day Celebration. Let these cricketers inspire many more and let us all work together to build an inclusive society.”
CABI along with Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled has been planning for some time now to initiate the cricket for visually impaired women after seeing the response received to the Cricket for Visually impaired men in the last decade. This feat was achieved in 2019 when the T-20 National Trophy for the Visually Impaired Women was introduced which saw 150 visually impaired women taking the field from 7 different states. Odisha won the first National tournament. Smrithi Mandhana, Vice-captain of the Indian women’s cricket team encouraged the entire effort by accepting to be the brand ambassador and Brian Lara, the legendary West Indian cricketer showed his solidarity by being part of the press conference at the launch of the tournament.
Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Indian Cricketer was the brand ambassador for the 2nd Women’s Nationals and 14 state teams participated in this edition, doubling the number of teams from the previous tournament. The tournament was held in Bengaluru and Karnataka emerged the winners.
The third Women’s Nationals was held in Bengaluru which saw 16 teams participating in the tournament with Odisha taking the honours for the second time beating Karnataka in the finals. Indian Women’s Cricket Team Captain Harmanpreet Kaur is the Brand Ambassador for the Women’s Blind Cricket for this year.
Ms Harmanpreet Kaur- The Brand Ambassador of Cricket for the Blind Women Said “Cricket is a game that knows no boundaries, and it brings people from all walks of life together. Today, cricket has transcended physical limitations, and I am proud to be associated with the Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) and Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled in promoting cricket for visually impaired women. Congratulations to the shortlisted 38 blind women cricketers of India who will be undergoing selection cum coaching camp in Bhopal.
These women have demonstrated extraordinary talent and dedication, and I am sure that they will continue to inspire others to follow in their footsteps. Through their hard work and determination, they have proven that cricket is a sport that knows no boundaries. They have shown that with passion and perseverance, anything is possible. Their achievements are a testament to the power of sports and their ability to bring people together and break barriers.
We have shortlisted the best of talent and looking forward to selecting the first-ever Indian Women’s Team. I am very confident will win the series in their maiden International Bilateral Series said E John David, General Secretary, of Cricket Association for the Blind in India.
The names of the players who are shortlisted for Selection trials to select the Indian Blind Women’s Cricket Team for Bilateral Series against Nepal
| S No | Name of the Player | Category | State |
| 1 | Varsha U | B1 | Karnataka |
| 2 | Simu Das | B1 | Rajasthan |
| 3 | Jamuna Rani Tudu | BI | Odisha |
| 4 | Jiya Chaubey | B1 | Chandigarh |
| 5 | Kavya V | B | Karnataka |
| 6 | Shabnam | B1 | Delhi |
| 7 | K Sandhya | B1 | Andhra Pradesh |
| 8 | Ravani | BI | Andhra Pradesh |
| 9 | Padmani Tudu | B1 | Odisha |
| 10 | Priya | B1 | Madhya Pradesh |
| 11 | Komal Mandohar | B1 | Madhya Pradesh |
| 12 | Shwetha Agarwal | B1 | Maharashtra |
| 13 | Ganga | B2 | Karnataka |
| 14 | Nuri | B2 | Delhi |
| 15 | Preeti Prasad | B2 | Delhi |
| 16 | Sandra Davis K | B2 | Kerala |
| 17 | Basanthi Hansda | B2 | Odisha |
| 18 | Vimla Sando | B2 | Jharkhand |
| 19 | Deepmala Kumari | B2 | Delhi |
| 20 | Varsha Bhise | B2 | Maharashtra |
| 21 | Dhanika | B2 | Chandigarh |
| 22 | Archana Rathod | B2 | Maharashtra |
| 23 | Priti Desai | B2 | Gujarat |
| 24 | Simran Kaur | B2 | Rajasthan |
| 25 | Monika Evaney | B2 | Madhya Pradesh |
| 26 | Renuka Rajput | B2 | Karnataka |
| 27 | Takhuben Amarji Kukadiay | B2 | Gujarat |
| 28 | Sushma Patel | B3 | Madhya Pradesh |
| 29 | Fula Soren | B3 | Odisha |
| 30 | Jhili Birua | B3 | Odisha |
| 31 | Deepika | B3 | Karnataka |
| 32 | Geeta Matho | B3 | Jharkhand |
| 33 | Jamshila K | B3 | Kerala |
| 34 | Ganga Kadam | B3 | Maharashtra |
| 35 | Nandini S | B3 | Tamil Nadu |
| 36 | Dhivya B | B3 | Tamil Nadu |
| 37 | M Satyavathi | B3 | Andhra Pradesh |
| 38 | Kavya N R | B3 | Karnataka |
For More Details, contact:
E John David – General Secretary, Cricket Association for the Blind in India on 94498 64785
Niranjan S – Media Coordinator on 80733 58679
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