August 16, 2019
A triumphant India Divyang Cricket Team will return to Mumbai on 18
August having made a clean sweep of the first ever Physical Disability T20
World Series in England. The win, hope supporters of the game, will win some
cash rewards as well as more substantial support for the team.
The euphoria is still high three days after the India Divyang Cricket
Team emerged champions at the first ever Physical Disability
T20 World Series. India beat favourites England in the finals held
at Worcestershire, England by 36 runs.
India was unbeaten right through the tournament which saw the participation
of five other countries. From the Indian cricket board Board of
Control for Cricket in India to senior government ministers, the
good wishes are still pouring in. The team is scheduled to meet with
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis upon their
return. They will rest for two days in Mumbai after which the players will
return home. Two of the players are from Jammu and Kashmir and they are
understandably anxious about meeting their families.
Among those who have congratulated the team are Minister of State for
Sports Kiren Rijiju and the Minister of State for Finance
and Corporate Affairs Anurag Thakur, both of whom are strong
supporters of all para sportspersons.
“My heartiest congratulations to the India Divyang Team for the win the
finals”, tweeted Anurag Thakur. “Their magnificent performance on the field
and fighting spirit has made every Indian’s head high”.
Kiren Rijiju added, “Congratulations! I’m extremely delighted and feel proud
that India has defeated England by 36 runs in the final to clinch Physical
Disability World Cricket Series 2019”.
The players and its association, All India Cricket Association for
the Physically Challenged (AICAPC) hope the win will lead to more
substantial support. AICAPC general secretary Ravi Chauhan
said the BCCI should honour the cricketers with cash awards and continued
support in the future.
The BCCI is the parent body and they must support the disabled cricketers
just like they support blind cricketers. They gave the players the
opportunity to take part in the world series and we appreciate that but the
players have lived up to the faith shown in them with this win. The board
has supported us only for this tournament but after this win, they must
extend that. – Ravi Chauhan, General Secretary, All India Cricket
Association for the Physically Challenged
In 2017, the BCCI had rewarded every member of India’s Blind World
Cup-winning team with ₹ 15 lakh each. Chauhan points out that the other four
countries that took part in the world series – England, Pakistan, Afghanistan
and Bangladesh – were supported by their cricket boards. India was the only
exception.
“When all the other participating countries are supported by their cricket
boards, why not us?. The BCCI must look at backing us long term. Besides the
BCCI constitution talks about forming a committee for disabled players that
would be managed by people with different disabilities. It is time they acted
on this”, he adds.
The AICPAC had to bear all the expenses of the team’s trip to the United
Kingdom for the series. A financial rewards, said team captain
Vikrant Keni would be deserved. “We don’t need sympathy. We
are from poor backgrounds but that has not some in the way of winning
recognition for India”.
Diana Edulji, member of the Committee of
Administrators (CoA) is among those to congratulate the team. “We
are proud of our boys. Well done. God bless,” she said. Hopefully these are
signs that the cricket board will finally give the players the honour due to
them.
Source: https://newzhook.com/story/victorious-india-divyang-cricket-team-to-land-in-mumbai-tomorrow
