The Cricket Association for Blind in India (CABI), in partnership with the Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled, recently revealed that the 6th edition of the Men’s National T20 Cricket Tournament for the Blind, known as the Nagesh Trophy, is scheduled to take place from November 25, 2023, to January 30, 2024.
The tournament’s league matches will be hosted at seven venues: Jammu, Dehradun (Uttarakhand), Kochi (Kerala), Chandigarh, Tripura, and Kota (Rajasthan). The location for the Super 8 stage will be determined shortly.
In this T20 format tournament, a total of 28 teams, representing states, union territories, and an Indian Railways team consisting of visually impaired individuals working in the Railways, will compete on a round-robin league basis. These 28 teams are divided into six groups based on their rankings from the previous year. The first four groups consist of five teams each, while the last two groups consist of four teams each.
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Dr. Mahantesh G Kivadasannavar, Chairman of the Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI), expressed his excitement about the upcoming season, stating, “The 6th edition of the Nagesh Trophy marks a new season with new talents. It will be a significant milestone for CABI Samarthanam in identifying emerging players who may be selected for the Indian Team. I would like to extend my gratitude to IndusInd Bank for their consistent support in promoting blind cricket.”
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He also emphasized the importance of this edition in preparing the Men’s Team for the 4th T20 World Cup Cricket for the Blind, scheduled for 2024 in Pakistan.
Buse Gowda, the President of CABI, reflected on the success of the previous five editions and shared his team’s determination to broaden the reach of the Nagesh Trophy across India, injecting fresh energy into the tournament.
Yogesh Taneja, Chairman of the Nagesh Trophy, highlighted the significance of promoting cricket for the visually impaired at the grassroots level. He stressed that the National Tournament serves as a platform to identify and nurture new talent, aiming to discover the best players who will represent India in future tournaments.
The 5th edition of the tournament ended with joint winners, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, due to adverse weather conditions. While Odisha has secured a national victory once, Andhra Pradesh has emerged as the champion three times in the tournament’s history.
Mr. Shailender, General Secretary of CABI, underlined the association’s unwavering commitment to promoting cricket for the visually impaired, emphasizing that every game played serves to make the country proud despite the challenges and obstacles faced.
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