BCCI should grant affiliation to blind cricket, says ex-skipper Shekhar Naik

Set to be conferred with the Padma Shri award, former Indian blind cricket team captain Shekhar Naik yesterday urged the BCCI to grant affiliation to the Cricket Association for Blind in India

Shekhar Naik

New Delhi: Set to be conferred with the Padma Shri award, former Indian blind cricket team captain Shekhar Naik yesterday urged the BCCI to grant affiliation to the Cricket Association for Blind in India.

“It is high time that the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) should recognise the efforts of blind cricket and give it affiliation. We have won two World Cups and the boys’ hard work and dedication need to be recognised,” Naik, who was named for Padma Shri on Wednesday, said.

“Cricket boards of other countries like Australia, South Africa, England, Pakistan and even smaller nations have already recognised their blind cricket. BCCI, which is the richest Board in the world, should do the same,” he added. The 30-year-old, who captained India to victories at the T20 Blind Cricket World Cup in 2012 and 2014 editions, also asked for a similar kind of facilities for the blind that the normal cricketers get.

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