Fourth Edition of National Cricket Championship for Deaf Launched in Kolkata
Inauguration of the Championship
The Indian Deaf Cricket Association (IDCA), with backing from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and recognized by both the Deaf International Cricket Council and the Asian Deaf Cricket Association, commenced the fourth edition of the Test National Cricket Championship for Deaf on December 18 in Kolkata.
A Grand Opening Ceremony
During a vibrant opening ceremony at the Merlin Rise Pavilion in Kolkata, Anirban Kumar Mukhopadhyay, the Founder Chairman of Heritage Global Bengal, officially launched the Test series. He expressed his aspirations for the players, stating, "I hope to see some of you represent India's main team in the future. There was a Divyang player who made it to the Indian team and became one of its finest Googly bowlers. I draw inspiration from him and from all of you, as I believe you can achieve what I cannot. Keep inspiring us all."
Tournament Format and Initial Matches
This nearly week-long Test series will feature two semi-final matches taking place simultaneously at Kolkata's Merlin Rise Cricket Ground and Rajasthan Club Ground from December 18 to 23. The semi-final winners will then compete for the championship trophy in the Final Test match scheduled from December 21 to 23. Semi-Final 1 will see Delhi face Bengal, while Semi-Final 2 will feature Odisha against Jammu Kashmir.
In the opening matches, Delhi won the toss against Bengal and chose to bowl first, while Jammu and Kashmir opted to bowl after winning their toss against Odisha. The IDCA 4th Test National Cricket Championship for Deaf will run from December 18 to 23, showcasing some of India's most skilled hearing-impaired cricketers from four states.
Testing Players' Endurance and Skill
Sumit Jain, President of IDCA, commented on the championship, stating, "The 4th Test National Cricket Championship for Deaf will serve as a rigorous test for all players, as it will be played over two innings across three days. While players are accustomed to shorter formats, a Test match will challenge their fitness and consistency over four innings. This series aims to celebrate the spirit, resilience, and talent of our hearing-impaired athletes and showcase their fighting spirit. Thanks to the generous support from the Cyrus Poonawalla Group, Merlin Rise Group management, and our partners, we are building a robust platform for differently-abled cricketers to excel on a national level."
Gratitude to Support Partners
Roma Balwani, CEO of IDCA, expressed her gratitude towards the support partners, saying, "I am thrilled that the 4th Test National Cricket Championship is being held in Kolkata. Our goal of uniting talented players who embody the strength of inclusivity in sports would not be achievable without the ongoing support from our partners. I am particularly thankful to our venue partner, Merlin Rise Pavilion, for providing this excellent location, and to EIIM for their volunteers and tremendous support."