World Cup win finally brings India's blind cricket team in the spotlight

They never ask for the sightscreen to be shifted
They can only hear the ball, the strokes and the excited shrieks and shouts of their teammates
The lighting in a day-night game means little to them because the umpire is the only one who sees the game
—Cricket Association for the Blind in India

Ever since the Indian blind cricket team returned from South Africa with the much-cherished World Cup trophy, they've barely caught their breath. It's a far cry from the way things were earlier when nobody knew such a team existed. But on Wednesday, three Union ministers, including sports minister Sarbananda Sonowal, received the victorious team at the airport in New Delhi. Even prime minister Narendra Modi and finance minister Arun Jaitley congratulated them.

"I didn't expect this kind of a reaction," says Shekar Naik, the captain. "The recognition we received made us realise our achievement," he adds even as the others sing and shout in the background. It's been two days, and the victory has just sunk in.

Last Sunday, the team defeated Pakistan in a thrilling final in Cape Town to bring home the Blind Cricket World Cup for the first time. It was the fourth edition of the tournament. And just like MS Dhoni and his boys celebrated their historic triumph in 2011, Naik & Co. did a lap of honour after the winning boundary was hit. They wanted to run as much, and as far as they could. The overflow of emotions took over the lack of sight.

"We felt we were on top of the world. Every player shed tears of happiness. We couldn't hold it back. We all cried together, we all celebrated together, we all felt proud together. We never thought we would win a World Cup like this in South Africa. And beating Pakistan made it all the more special," says the 28-year-old from Shimoga, Karnataka.

Smells like team spirit

This team — they also won the T20 World Cup held in India in 2012 — is that it thrives on unity and mutual respect. "State teams are always united largely because they speak the same language. But our team has players from 10 different states, including Gujarat, Punjab, Maharastra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. We make it a point to learn each other's language, however difficult it is. So a player who comes from the north, even if he is new, has to teach us Hindi and Punjabi. That way, we get closer," Naik says. So what if they can't see each other.

John David, who has managed this team for nearly five years, says looking after the players can be a challenge, but their teamwork makes things easier for him. "The disability can be a problem sometimes, but the guys are very capable," he says. There are shortcomings everywhere. Even able-bodied cricketers have shortcomings. But that is where teamwork comes in. These boys look out for each other all the time."

Point to prove

It's not all hunky-dory, though. There are times when some players think of quitting the game to find greener pastures. The lack of rewards and recognition can dampen even the eternal optimist. It's purely the high of playing for the country that drives these men. "If I just sat at home and did nothing in life, the entire world would have looked down upon me," says Naik, who first played for India in 200. "So my motive was that the entire world should look at people like me and realise that I am one among them. I wanted to prove a point. Had I quit, what message would that send to youngsters who wanted to become like me? "Visually impaired cricketers don't just play for money, jobs, fame or happiness. We play to gain confidence; we play to prove that a blind man can do anything. Playing cricket gives us that extra motivation and energy," Naik adds.

The outside world might make them feel lesser than the others, but the great thing about sport is that it treats everyone equally.

Support, anyone?

These cricketers are governed by the Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI), the cricketing arm of Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled, an NGO. CABI is a registered non-profit organisation affiliated to the World Blind Cricket Council and Paralympics Committee of India. The association has 20 state units across the country, with more than 30,000 registered cricketers. It organises bilateral tours almost every year, and takes part in all world events.

However, it is begging for recognition from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Its pleas have fallen on deaf ears. The sports ministry did fund their World Cup trip, but as the secretary of the association, Mahantesh G, puts it, "they have to slog it out for funds every day".

The association is hoping that this win blows the winds of change. "In every other major cricket-playing nation, the blind cricket team is affiliated to the parent cricket board," says Nagesh S, president, CABI. "I hope things change here. Everybody knows blind cricket is no joke. These players have shown how good they are, and they deserve all the support and recognition."

The government has promised them a special grant every year. Every member of the team received a cash reward of Rs 7 lakh. "We have never seen so much money before," Naik says. The prime minister has also promised them government jobs.

"Only one or two players have government jobs, and it has got nothing to do with their cricketing achievements. Most of us do small-time jobs. I work for the Samarthanam Trust, drawing a salary of Rs 9,000 per month. My villagers say that I should be earning in crores. Just like MS Dhoni. But we earn no money from cricket," Naik says.

While the government has made a lot of promises, the BCCI has not bothered to even send them a congratulatory message. "When Dhoni won the World Cup in 2011, or if India wins any tournament, they waive the Tricolour. Even we have done the country proud. Cricket is cricket. They play, so do we. The BCCI has done nothing for us," Naik says.
 

Dare to dream

And despite all the odds, Naik & Co. dare to dream. They dream they can lift the 2016 World Cup too. They dream of getting recognition from the BCCI as well as continued support from the government.
Now that's what you call vision.

DID YOU KNOW?

* Blind cricket was invented in Melbourne in 1922 by two blind factory workers who improvised the game using a tin, which contained rocks. The Victorian Blind Cricket Association was founded after a few months, and the first sports ground and clubhouse for blind cricket was built at Kooyong, Melbourne, in 1928.

* The National Institute for the Visually Handicapped (NIVH), Dehradun, has developed an audio ball, which is now accepted internationally.

RULES OF THE GAME

* In terms of playing equipment, the major adaptation is the ball. The ball used for blind cricket is considerably larger than the standard cricket ball and filled with ball bearings. The audible ball helps the player to sense the direction of the ball.

* The stumps are made of hollow steel pipes welded into one set. This allows the players to touch it in order to correctly position when batting or bowling, and also to produce a sound when it is struck by a ball.

* Verbal signals are used by umpires and players. The bowler must shout 'play' as he releases the ball. The delivery is required to pitch at least twice, but must not roll. Totally blind fielders are allowed to take a catch on the bounce.

WHAT IS CABI?

Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) is the cricketing arm of Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled, an NGO. CABI took over the responsibility of promoting and organising cricket for the visually impaired from the Association for Cricket for the Blind in India in 2010. A registered non-profit organisation, CABI is affiliated to the World Blind Cricket Council and Paralympics Committee of India

ROLL OF HONOUR

World Cup Host Winner
1998 India South Africa
2002 India Pakistan
2006 Pakistan Pakistan
2014 South Africa India

*India also won the first-ever Blind Cricket T20 World Cup held in Bangalore in 2012, defeating Pakistan by 29 runs in the final