Breeze of hope : Formalisation of Differently-Abled Cricket Committee.
The year comes to a merrier end with the big news coming its way.
Haven’t you heard it just yet?
So, allow me to break the news to you. The 90th Annual General Meeting of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was held on December 4th, 2021 in Kolkata. The biggest cricket association officially announced the formation of the Differently Abled Cricket Committee. Yes, you heard it right. This changes a lot of things for the disabled community trying to map its rehabilitation programs through sports.
Indeed it will be a Happy New year for the Differently-Abled Cricket Committee, Here’s why
Also Read: Differently abled Cricket committee formed BCCI to follow soon
Earlier in March this year, the Differently-Abled Cricket Council of India (DCCI) was formed by various groups running various forms of Different-Abled Cricket in India. It includes the Physically Challenged Cricket Association of India (PCCAI), Wheelchair Cricket India Association (WCIA), Indian Deaf Cricket Association (IDCA) and Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI).
Ravi Chauhan (PCCAI), representing the Physically Challenged Cricket Association of India; Squadron Leader Abhai Pratap Singh (Retd) representing Wheelchair Cricket India Association (WCIA); Sumit Jain representing Indian Deaf Cricket Association (IDCA); and G.K Mahentesh of Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) decided to come together to form a common body. Together they endeavor for the future of different-abled cricket in India.
What will change in Differently-Abled Cricket ?
There was just the Indian Men’s Cricket Team and the Indian Women’s Cricket Team playing under the BCCI. The official announcement of the formation of the Differently-Abled Cricket Committee will be a cricket revolution in the country. The form of cricket gives hope to the disabled community for a broader discourse. Sports in our country is itself not realized to its fullest potential. Further, sports in the community that is hugely stigmatised is a bigger battle. The realization of the announcement will open many doors of opportunities for the sportsperson of the disabled community.
Taking to Twitter, the Different-abled Cricket Council of India thanked Saurav Ganguly, President, BCCI, Jay Shah, Honorary Secretary, and Arun Thakur, Treasurer, BCCI for the historic announcement.
It said, “We, the DCCI, are grateful to @JayShah, @SGanguly99, @ThakurArunS and to all the esteemed state and affiliated units of the BCCI for forming the Differently Abled cricket committee. It’s the first time the @BCCI has recognized disability cricketers and taken us in their wings.”
We, the DCCI, are grateful to @JayShah @SGanguly99 @ThakurArunS and to all the esteemed state and affiliated units of the BCCI for forming the Differently Abled cricket committee. It’s the first time the @BCCI has recognised disability cricketers and taken us in their wings. pic.twitter.com/fWDydTKD9V
— Differently Abled Cricket Council of India (@dcciofficial) December 8, 2021
Twitter began flooding with messages and wishes. Paralympic Committee of India President Deepa Malik tweeted wishing BCCI, Jay Shah, and Saurav Ganguly for the move. She further mentions how she has always promoted sports in disability and how the sport will bring inclusivity and change through sports.
“Always promoted all sports in disability and this sport will further bring inclusivity and change through sports. Kudos to @BCCI, @JayShah, @SGanguly99 for this move. Thank you for empowering through sports.” Malik tweeted.
Mithali Raj, Captain of the Indian Women’s Cricket Team congratulated BCCI for their inspirational and historic decision.
Kudos to @BCCI for such an inspirational & historic decision. https://t.co/4NaXnVkMqJ
— Mithali Raj (@M_Raj03) December 12, 2021
Sports Advocacy in the disability community.
If you happen to read a few interviews of the Paralympians and other Differently-Abled Sportspersons previously at Sociotab, you would find one thing in common. The big names of the disabled sports fraternity talk about the evolving space of sports. It entails a more respectful accommodation and reception of disabled sportspeople. The clouds of speculation of the inclusion of cricket in the Olympics and Paralympics further broaden the horizon of sports advocacy in the disability community.
Without a shadow of a doubt, the formalisation of the scattered organisation of cricket in the disabled community, namely, Wheelchair Cricket India Association (WCIA), Physically Challenged Cricket Association of India (PCCAI), Indian Deaf Cricket Association (IDCA), and Cricket Association for Blinds in India (CABI), will clear the ambiguity on the roadmap of Differently-Abled Cricket in India. Along that comes the resolution of funding and sponsorship which allows financial independence and organised monetary support. It sets the ground for accessibility for Persons with Disabilities to Quality Cricketing Infrastructure.
