By Radhika Mishra
Boston—The Indian Men’s Cricket Team for the Blind will tour 10 major cities across the U.S. to spread awareness, empower visually impaired athletes, and raise funds for the first accessible cricket stadium in India.
“This ambitious project represents a significant step towards promoting inclusivity and
empowerment in sports. The funds we hope to gather from CABI’s tour to the USA will help us create a landmark facility that will inspire a new era of opportunities for visually impaired athletes globally,” the Cricket Association for the Blind India (CABI) said in a statement.
To watch a 7-minute video, please click here, or on the image below.
The team kicked off it official tour this weekend in Boston and will make their way through New York, New Jersey, Washington D.C., Chicago, Detroit, Dallas, Los Angeles, Seattle, and end the two-month journey in the Bay Area.
Fans of cricket and advocates for disability rights and inclusivity will be able to meet players, share their stories, and empower blind and disabled people by supporting this event.
The team iis composed of fully and partially visually impaired people. The batter is fully blind while the outfielders are partially impaired and able to run after the ball. Players can hear the ball by the sound emitted from it as it is in play.
The team has already begun making their mark in America by showing up at a camp in
Maryland that caters to children with disabilities, providing cricket lessons and inspiration for disabled youth.
This tour is sponsored by Indian American entrepreneur and philanthropist Subu Kota, who is a cornerstone in the creation and success of Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI).
Mr. Kota and the CABI wish to develop a team in the U.S. that will compete against other countries. He is the former president of the U.S. branch for Samarthanam, a non-profit organization that is working alongside Kota in building this team.
Samarthanam is a non-profit NGO aiming to uplift disabled people all over the world and create an inclusive society. Since 1997, they have been envisioning a society free from ableist discrimination and that values the contributions and existence of disabled people around the world.
Mr. Kota, CABI, and alongside Samarthanam seek to raise money for the first fully accessible cricket stadium in India which will not only be an inclusive space for all to enjoy a match but also symbolizes a step in the right direction. The arena will be expected to exceed current dimensions and capabilities by 35% and will follow Paralympic and Olympic guidelines.
The stadium is a part of a broader effort to create the “Bengaluru Sports City,” a sports center for disabled athletes that will also house an inclusive sports academy.
“This ambitious project represents a significant step towards promoting inclusivity and
empowerment in sports. The funds we hope to gather from CABI’s tour to the USA will help us create a landmark facility that will inspire a new era of opportunities for visually impaired athletes globally,” the statement said.
Join the CABI this summer in your local city to experience a better tomorrow and enjoy India’s most popular sport: 10-City Tour Schedule:
Boston: July 25-30
New York: July 31-Aug. 4
New Jersey: Aug. 5-11
Washington, DC: Aug. 12-15
Chicago: Aug. 16-21
Detroit: Aug. 22-23
Dallas: Aug. 24-29
Los Angeles: Aug. 30-Sept. 4
Seattle: Sept. 5-9
Bay Area: Sept. 10-17.
