Chennai: Former Indian cricketer Krishnamachari Srikanth feels the time is right to develop blind cricket in India and feels that an age-group tournament for the visually challenged is the need of the hour.
He was speaking at a felicitation ceremony organised by Rotary Club of Madras East and Saraswathi Vidyalaya in which Indian Blind cricket team coach Patrick Rajkumar was honoured with Dhronacharya Award. Rajkumar was given the award for his contribution to blind cricket team as a coach. Under him, the Indian team has tasted enormous success as they have won two World T20 titles, with the first one in 2012 as well as an ODI World Cup and Asia Cup. Srikkanth presented the citation and honoured Patrick at the event.
Srikkanth said, “The first victory is the most important victory and the World Cup win by the blind cricket team in 2012 is something amazing. What Patrick has done to the team is just a seed and obviously the plant will grow and become a tree in future,” said Srikkanth, at the event.
He also expressed his wish to start an age-group tournament for blind cricketers in the city. “I am very clear I want to organise an age-group tournament for the blind in the city. It is the joy that we give to them that matters. The players just want the pleasure of playing and it is what we owe to these people. We want to give joy to the younger lot by starting an Under-16 or Under-18 tournament in the city.”
Patrick who was not a professional cricketer or a coach when he took up the job as a coach of the team said, “I am really happy to receive the award from Krishnamachari Srikkanth. When I was offered the job, I studied in detail about what was expected of me and knew that it would be full of challenges but I accepted it as I would be helping a lot of players. I feel that the world would be a better place if we start giving back to others what we have.” Former captain of India’s blind cricket team was also present at the event.
‘Good series ahead for India’
With India all set to start the home series against South Africa, with the three-match T20I series beginning at Dharamsala, 15 September, Kris Srikkanth feels that India must start prwparing for the 2020 T20 World Cup with this series.
“The series will be a very good one for India and we can expect a strong performance from the team, given their current form. With T20 World Cup a year away, this series should mark the beginning of the preparations for the World Cup.” he said.