Blind cricket

British Blind Sport

The founding members of the British Blind Sport organisation were cricketers, and the association is the administrative body for the sport within the United Kingdom.

Blind Cricket New South Wales (BCNSW)[edit]

Blind Cricket New South Wales (BCNSW) is the home of blind cricket in New South Wales.

Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI)[edit]

Main article: Cricket Association for the Blind in India

Starting 2011, Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) is in place of Association for Cricket for the Blind India (ACBI) set up in 1996. George Abraham is the founder of the registered voluntary body. Its objectives are to use competitive cricket to teach the blind to look at life positively, gain in confidence and strive to be winners rather than dependents; and to use the game as a medium to transmit the message of ability and talent to the society. The ACBI organised the first two Blind Cricket World Cups in 1998 and 2002.

CABI is the apex body that organizes and conducts cricket for blind across India. CABI is a sports initiative of Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled. It is a registered Non Profit Organization, affiliated to the World Blind Cricket Council (WBCC). Conferred the hosting rights of the First Ever T – 20 World Cup in Bangalore in November /December 2012.

Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC)[edit]

Main article: Pakistan Blind Cricket Council

In 1997, Agha Shoukat Ali laid the foundation for the development of cricket for the blind in Pakistan named ‘Pakistan Blind Cricket Council’ (PBCC). Agha Shoukat Ali, the founder and life and soul of cricket for the blind in Pakistan, also represented the country in August 1996 the first International Conference on Cricket for the Blind which was held in Delhi, India, in which seven countries from all over the World participated. The Pakistan Blind Cricket Council is registered and affiliated with the World Blind Cricket Council (WBCC) and is its permanent member. The PBCC attends all the International Conferences and is playing its part practically.

From 1997 onwards many registered clubs have come into existence and are affiliated with the Pakistan Blind Cricket Council. Cricket is now played regularly in schools among the blind. Tournaments are regularly organized in different cities of the country so that the blind may be able to meet, exchange information and have some fun. Rules similar to ‘sighted cricket’ are observed for cricket for the blind whenever it is played and efforts are being made to spread this all over the country.

In 2002 Government of Punjab allocated 45 Kanal space for the construction of Cricket stadium and facilities for PBCC. On construction it will be the first Cricket stadium built for Blind Cricketers.

Victorian Blind Cricket Association (VBCA)[edit]

The Victorian Blind Cricket Association (VBCA) is the home of blind cricket in Victoria. Blind cricket was invented in Melbourne in 1922. The world's first sports ground and clubhouse for blind people was developed at Kooyong Kooyong, Victoria, Melbourne in 1928 and is still used today as the home of the VBCA.

The Association now has four clubs and approximately 70 vision impaired and blind members and several volunteers.

Current clubs:

• Burwood Blind Cricket Club
• Glenferrie Lions Blind Cricket Club
• Institute Blind Cricket Club
• St. Paul's Blind Cricket Club

The Victorian Blind Cricket Association is located in the Charlie Bradley Pavilion, at the rear of 454 Glenferrie Road, Kooyong VIC 3144 (opposite the Kooyong Tennis StadiumKooyong Stadium). Games are played on Saturday afternoons from October through to March and spectators are most welcome.

The VBCA provides an important role in the community by developing and providing opportunities for people who are blind or vision impaired to enjoy the recreational and social benefits of cricket. Additionally, the VBCA participates in cricket matches against sighted opposition in keeping with the philosophy of integration and working to remove barriers and isolating influences of having limited vision.

The ongoing aims and objectives of the VBCA are as follows:

• To further promote the game of Blind Cricket in Victoria
• Provides sport, fitness, and physical recreation opportunities for individuals of all ages who are legally blind
• Aims to improve the physical capabilities and self-confidence of individuals who are blind, visually impaired