11th March 2016 01:01:04 Hours
A 20 member team of visually-impaired cricketers, including 4 other rankers in the Army, representing Sri Lanka’s National Team, in response to a request made by the Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) to the Sri Lanka Cricket Association for the Visually Handicapped (SLCAVH), participated in the first-ever T-20 Asia Cup Cricket Tournament, held recently in Kochi, Kerala in India.
Visually-impaired cricketers from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka vied in the tournament. Sri Lanka beating Bangladesh and Nepal’s teams did well at the preliminary rounds but lost to Pakistan and India in the end.
Corporal J.P.D Ravindra of 10 Gajaba Regiment (GR) and Corporal I.A.P Saman Kumara of 14 Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment (VIR) shone brilliantly and contributed to the win over Bangladesh and Nepal. However, Indian team carried away the T-20 Asian Cup after defeating their rival, Pakistan in the final encounter.
Participation of the Army cricketers was facilitated following initiatives taken by the Directorate of Rehabilitation in close cooperation with the Army Para Olympic Committee.
The closing ceremony of the tournament took part on 24 January where awards were given away.
