KARACHI: Sindh blind cricket team comprehensively beat Khyber Pakhtunkhwa blind outfit to clinch the National T20 Solidarity Cup for Blind here at the NED University Ground on Thursday.

Batting first after being put in by Sindh, the KP team scored 195 all out in the stipulated 20 overs with Waqar Saeed (81) and Riasat Khan (24) contributing well with the bat. For Sindh, Murad Shah, Tariq Samuel and Majid Khan shared the wickets.

In reply, Sindh cruised to victory, reaching the target in the 14th over without losing a wicket. Captain Tariq Samuel scored a fluent 104. He was declared the Man of the Match for his all-round show.

Later, Karachi commissioner Shoaib Siddiqui, who was the chief guest on the occasion, lauded the staging of the event and said that the blind cricketers and KBCC have paid a befitting tribute to the martyred children of Peshawar’s Army Public School by organising this event.

He paid rich tributes to the entire organising team, especially Imran Shaikh and Asif Azeem, for their efforts and smooth staging of the event.

Former chief selector and adviser South to PCB chief, Salahuddin Sallu also praised the discipline and skills displayed by the blind cricketers in the tournament.

World Blind Cricket Council (WBCC) president Syed Sultan Shah said that every citizen of Pakistan should play their role to defeat terrorism and the blind cricketers are doing just that.

Asif said this tournament will promote a positive image of the country while PBCC vice-president Imran thanked Sports Department of Sindh, DMC South and the sponsors for their support.

In the end, the commissioner gave Rs25,000 and winners trophy to Sindh captain Tariq Samuel while Sallu presented the runners-up trophy and Rs15,000 to KP captain.

Published in Dawn, January 23rd, 2015

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