KARACHI:World Blind Cricket Council (WBCC) President Syed Sultan Shah says the blind cricket activities will be restored as soon as possible after the coronavirus pandemic forced almost all sports activities to get suspended.
“Coronavirus forced major sporting events get canceled. However, it has also severely affected the activities of blind cricket. T20 Blind World Cup in England has also been canceled,” he said during a reception held by Karachi Sports Foundation in his honor.
“But the situation has improved and we have started the domestic season of Blind Cricket in Pakistan. After the ongoing T20 Grade 2 League in Karachi, Grade 1 in Attock will also be held this month.”
Samiul Rasool, CEO Joshila Sports, Tehmina Asif, Member POA Environment Commission, Syed Salman Bukhari, Director PBCC Cricket Operations, Imran Sheikh, Chairman Asif Azeem, President Syed Wasim Hashmi, Secretary Murad Hussain and other personalities were also present on the occasion.
Syed Sultan Shah said that we are trying our best to provide opportunities to the national blind team to play more international matches. He added that Pakistan team will visit Bangladesh as soon as conditions improve.
Sultan Shah also praised KSF on the occasion.
“To provide free higher education to the young and talented athletes of the country, to spread the message of green Pakistan free from environmental pollution through sports and especially for sportsmen in the face of global epidemic of Covid-19 in the current situation is a great thing. In providing free test facilities and provision of ration bags for humanitarian service, I pay tribute to all the members of KSF,” he said.
Samiul Rasool, CEO of Joshila Sports said that Pakistan Blind Cricket team is a two-time world champion and undoubtedly the best team in the world. The Pakistan Blind team also has the distinction of scoring most runs and winning by 399 runs.
“These excellent records show that our country’s blind cricketers have immense talent and the way in which these players have hoisted the green crescent flag of Pakistan on the world stage is commendable,” he said.
POA Environment Commission Member Tehmina Asif said that visually impaired people are an important pillar of our society and we all need to respect them. It is our moral and religious right to stop traffic for them when they are crossing roads.
We appeal to the government to allocate special funds for the betterment of the future of the blind, especially the blind cricketers, so that the economic problems the face can be alleviated.
Other guests planted trees under the Clean and Green Pakistan campaign jointly organized by Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) and KSF.