IPL-style T20 tournament for blind cricketers set to kick-off in November

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has indeed changed the lives of many Indian cricketers as they were professionally and financially boosted as well. A similar kind of league is set to be launched for the blind cricketers which if comes true, would be a huge boost for them. Cricket Association for Blind in India (CABI) is working towards building an 8-10 franchisee league and some of the IPL team owners are already showing their interest in it to make the league a huge success.

Team India is at the top in blind cricket also as they have won the T20 World Cup, 40-over version of the game and came out with flying colours in World Cup which held in Sharjah. Though they were awarded Rs 12 Lakh each after triumphing in the showpiece event last year, the league will boost their income further.

40 league matches will be played

The general secretary of CABI John David is working hard towards making the IPL-style league a reality and was optimistic about the same while speaking to Times of India. “There will be around 40 league matches along with three knock-out games over the 25-day event. There could be two teams from one state also and depending on the response from the corporate, CABI would plan the league accordingly. We are trying to reach out to all the promoters of IPL as well to make it a success,” he said.

The Indian team currently earns around Rs 10,000 per month and the base price of the cricketers in the league would be minimum Rs 50,000 which would be huge. “Four to five cricketers from the current Indian team are working while two to three are students. But not all have jobs. This tournament will enable them to get some income and I am sure the corporates will come forward because our Indian cricketers are world champions,” David added.

Interestingly, most players from all the Test playing nations are also set to take part in the tournament. “Cricketers from all major Test playing nations would be available to play the blind version of IPL T20, except Zimbabwe. We are yet to come out with the name of the tournament, but we hope to do so very soon,” he concluded.

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