Odisha Channel Bureau
BHUBANESWAR: India will face New Zealand in the T20 World Cup for Blind here today. The qualifier match of the 2nd T20 World Cup Cricket for the Blind 2017 between the two teams will be held at KIIT Grounds here.
The members of the two teams were welcomed in grand Odia style when they arrived in the city on Monday evening. They were welcomed by the officials from Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI), Cricket Association for the Visually Impaired Odisha (CAVI Odisha), and brand ambassador for Cricket for the Blind in Odisha Odia Actor Sabyasachi Mishra.
Indian Team have won 6 out of 7 matches they have played and rank 2 whereas the New Zealand team are yet to open the account on the leaderboard. After arriving in Bhubaneswar, the teams were driven to KIIT University in a procession through the city where the dignitaries and the Team Captains addressed the Media.
“We are absolutely privileged to be hosting two wonderful teams in Odisha for the League Match of the 2nd T20 World Cup Cricket for the Blind. We have always believed in an Inclusive society and equal opportunities for all which drives us to support special causes and help meet their needs. On behalf of the Sports and Youth Services Department of the Govt. of Odisha, I wish both the teams good luck ahead of their match tomorrow,” said Vishal K Dev, Commissioner and Secretary to Government, Sports & Youth Services Department, Government of Odisha.
“CAVI Odisha is putting in their best efforts to promote the game throughout the state. They need all the possible support from the Governments as well as corporates. We have no dearth of talent in the state. They should also get opportunities on the level equal to the sighted cricketers,” said Prakash K Rath, Area Director, Special Olympics Bharat Odisha.
