It was a glorious display of indomitable human spirit clearing every obstacle through pure grit and determination
THE recently concluded blind cricket series between Pakistan and India proved to be an enlightening success, not for the victorious hosts, but for the visitors and for the organizers as well. For the discipline displayed by fans and organizers paved the way for smooth proceedings, a sign of peaceful days to come during the first full-strength series between India and Pakistan.
The first Indo-Pak One-Day International series of blind cricketers was a joint initiative undertaken by the Association for Cricket for the Blind in India (ACBI) and The Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC).
The tour was designed to keep up with the pace and momentum of ongoing efforts to improve cricketing relations between the two countries. And its success can be judged by the fact that the tour schedule and final lineup of the mainstream Indian cricket team was announced only after the Indian cricket board saw that all things went well during the blind-cricketers tour of Pakistan.
The Indian team played like a well-rounded side comprising of players with both experience and youth. Although it was the first visit by an Indian side to Pakistan, India has in the past played Pakistan, notably during the two World Cups held in India in 1998 and 2002. Prior to the series the two countries had an even record with both sides winning one match each. In the first World Cup in New Delhi in 1998, India scored a comprehensive victory over Pakistan.
But four years later, it was Pakistan’s turn to event the score by stealing a close match during the 2002 World Cup in Chennai. However, of much more importance was the recently concluded One-Day series which was an attempt by the physically challenged cricketers of both countries to strengthen the bond of friendship and sportsmanship between the subcontinental neighbours. It also provided the visually impaired cricketers from both countries with an opportunity to demonstrate their talents and potential.
The focus was on ability, during this special tour, rather than weaknesses. It is a glorious sage of the indomitable human spirit surmounting every obstacle through pure grit and determination. The series projected the visually impaired as positive and active human beings with emotions, capabilities and ambitions, thus fostering social integration along with all round development.
During the matches at Karachi, the Indian team manager Udey Gupte praised security arrangements saying they were impeccable as the players felt safe and relaxed. “People are cooperative and friendly as we felt at home during our stay in Pakistan” the manager said.
Back in India Gupte revealed that their contingent was given special attention at the Pakistan High Commission as there was no problem in obtaining the visas. The team was exempted from police reporting as is in the case of ordinary visa holders.
Indian coach Amarjeet Singh revealed that the team was selected keeping in mind the 2006 World Cup. The average age of players is 18 and he was working on physical fitness of each member. He praised top fitness of Pakistan players while emphasizing that youngsters in Indian team will be fully prepared for the 2006 big event.
PLAY BALL: Cricket for the blind is played with a plastic ball filled with beads so that a batsman can hear the ball coming. Bowling is done underarm. The playing eleven comprise of four categories; B1 players who are totally blind, three of them have 20-25 per cent vision (category B2) and four of them have 45-60 per cent vision (category B3). The category B1 batsman has a runner who is partially sighted and for every run he scores it is doubled.
The first two matches of the series saw Pakistan take the lead. Mohammad Fayyaz spanked an unbeaten 148 leaving the Indians no chance of victory in the first One-Day at Lahore as Pakistan achieved the target of 294 with the loss of only two wickets and 12.3 overs to spare.
In the second match at Karachi, the Indians improved and set a target of 348 thanks mainly to opener Rajinder Verma’s unbeaten 138. But his efforts were nullified by Pakistan’s Muzaffar Ali’s 87 and Fayyaz’s half-century as Pakistan achieved the target in 35.4 overs.
Rajinder Verma grew in strength by hammering an unbeaten double-hundred to shock the World Champions in the third One-Day as India piled on 409 for only two wickets. Reeling under pressure Pakistan were bundled out for a paltry 248 in 29 overs; eight of their batsmen were run out, an extra-ordinary event since totally blind batsmen were allowed a runner.
Pakistan was expected to sweep the series but suffered its first setback. Jolted from complacency, the hosts clinched an unassailable lead in the fourth match when Mohammad Fayyaz once again rose to the occasion to score 101 to reach the target of 360. He was assisted by Mohammad Waqas who hit a hurricane 92 in only 41 balls. Earlier Indian Shekhar Naik blasted Pakistan bowling for 192 including 25 boundaries and a six, rarely hit in the game.
In the final encounter played in Islamabad, Pakistan whipped India by eight wickets despite the Indians setting up a big target of 388, mainly due to the superb unbeaten knock of 146 by Rajinder Verma. Aamir Ashfaq paid the Indian bowlers in the same by hitting up a spectacular unbeaten 120 in only 91 balls to tally the final victory margin.
Pakistan skipper Abdul Razzak lifted the glittering trophy and a purse of Rs100,000 on behalf of his teammates. Manvendra Singh was awarded the runners-up trophy along with a cheque of Rs50,000. Rajinder Verma was awarded the Man-of-the-Series Award and Rs10,000. Mohammad Fayyaz was voted the Best Batsman for B2 and B3 categories, Rajinder Verma Best Batsman for B1 category, Aamir Shfaq Best Bowler B2, B3 category, Rajesh Singh Best Bowler in the B1 category, Shariq Yasin Best Fielder for B2, B3 and Mohammad Shahbaz was declared Best Fielder for B1 category.
The Federal Minister for Information, Shaikh Rashid Ahmed handed the prizes following the last game while Indian Deputy High Commissioner Raghvan, Ambassador of Sri Lanka Veersuriya and Chairman of country wide organizing committee, Arif Ali Khan Abbasi were present on the occasion.
Despite winning last year’s World Cup and the orders of the President, Pervez Musharraf who is also Patron of the PCB, it is intriguing that the Pakistan Cricket Board has not heeded to the request of Pakistan Blind Cricket Council for affiliation. The PBCC has requested the PCB to take Council under its umbrella and sanction the annual grant for the existence of PBCC and for the development of Pakistan Blind Cricket.
At the same time the Council has now fully exposed the apathy and lack of interest of cricket and sports authorities in the country who failed to respond to the call of blind cricketers. It is painful to have learnt that the team management had to borrow Rs80,000 to meet some of the tour expenses before embarking for India to participate in last year’s World Cup. The Pakistan Cricket Board after much reluctance provided some relief in the shape of air tickets but the real backing for implementation of future plans of the Council are still lacking.
It was a glorious display of indomitable human spirit clearing every obstacle through pure grit and determination 
