Blind Cricket
Pakistan World Cup 2006 Winner Blind Cricket Team
Cricket by the Blind is the only sports that provide a healthy playing field for the blind. A few know about this game. However, lately the holding of the World Cup for the Blind Cricket has attracted the world attention to the noble cause. Fortunately, Pakistan is amongst some of those countries where this type of cricket is played and Pakistani team also ranks among the top few teams, having won the last World Cup. Beside Pakistan, South Africa, India, Sri Lanka, Australia, New Zealand, England and the West Indies also participate in the blind cricket matches. World’s first Cricket Test match for the Blind was played between Pakistan and South Africa in which Pakistan defeated South Africa by 94 runs. Defending Champion Pakistan once again retained the title by beating India by six wickets on 16 December 2006 at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Pakistan. Pakistan qualified for the final by beating Australia by 10 wickets.
The present Pakistani squad for the World Cup 2006 includes:
Totally blind: Mohammad Waqas, Mohammad Shehbaz, Anwar Ali, Amir Ishfaq, Noor Quresh, Mohammad Waseem Khan
Partially blind: Abdul Razzaq (captain), Masood Jan, Zeeshan Abbasi, Mohammad Irfan, Muzafar Ali
Partially sighted: Mohammad Fayaz (vice captain), Syed Adnan Ahmad, Shariq Yaseen, Mohammad Akram, Tahir Ali (wicket-keeper), Tariq Samuel
Pakistan's Amir Ishfaq (left) and Masood Jan (right) - World Cup 1998
The main difference between standard Cricket and Blind Cricket is the ball. Blind Cricket is played with a size three football containing ball bearings. The teams are composed of players from up to five different sight categories B1, low partial, B2, B3 and B4. B1 is totally blind and the sight categories then move upwards in levels of sight. Each sight category is subject to different rules and compensations in order to make the playing field as level as possible. For example, a B1 player receives two bounce bowling and is allowed to catch opposing batsmen out one bounce. B1 players also have to bowl around a third of their side’s overs and each team must field at least three B1 players. The major variations with the regular cricket are as follows:
The wicket is larger, making it easier for the partially sighted players to see and easier for a Batsman or Bowler to touch for the purpose of orientatation.
The ball must
pitch at least twice before the crease of a totally blind Batsman but must
not be rolling.
The ball must pitch at
least once before the crease of a partially sighted Batsman.
A totally blind Batsman
is given one chance before being given out LBW and cannot be stumped.
The Bowler must ask the
Batsman if he is ready before beginning his run up and shout "play" as he
releases the ball.
A totally blind Fielder
can make a catch after the ball has bounced once.
World Records:
Highest score
by an individual blind player: 262 by Masood Jaan (Pak v RSA), Delhi, 1998.
Highest score by a team:
376 by Pakistan (Pak v RSA), Delhi 1998.
Fastest Century: 37 balls
by Ashraf Bhatti, (Pak v NZ), Delhi 1998.
Fastest fifty: 17 balls by Abdul Razzaq, (Pak v Aus), Delhi 1998.
Maximum individual
boundaries: 42 by Masood Jaan, (Pak v RSA), Delhi1998.
Maximum catches taken by a player in a match: 4 by Adnan Ahmed, (Pak v RSA),
South Africa 2000.
Best wicket-keeping
performance in an inning: 2 stumpings and 3 catches by Ishfaq Ahmed, (Pak v
RSA), South Africa 2000.
Best Fielder: Zareen Khan who is totally blind took two catches on
consecutive balls and received a distinction, (Pak v RSA), South Africa
2000.
In the very first Test
match the Pakistan team scored 721 runs for the loss of 8 wickets against
South Africa in 2000.
Abdul Razzaq, the fastest bowler in the world of cricket for the blind took
five wickets in the first ever Test match played between Pakistan and South
Africa in 2000.
Runner Up 1998 World Cup - Pakistan Blind Cricket Squad with the Indian President - Masood Jan in action 1998
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