The Cricket Association for the Blind in India or CABI jointly with the
Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled has announced former Indian cricketer
Mohammad Kaif as the Brand Ambassador of the 6th edition of the Men’s National
T20 Cricket Tournament for the Blind 2023-24 also known as Nagesh Trophy.
As a brand and goodwill ambassador, Kaif aims to bat for the cause of
Blind Cricket in India and highlight the unwavering strength shown by the
visually impaired players.
This association between Mohammad Kaif and the Nagesh Trophy is a
momentous step towards promoting inclusivity and highlighting the achievements
of visually impaired cricketers in India.
The Nagesh Trophy will be held from November 23 to January 30, 2024. The
league stage will be played till December 29, 2023. CABI will hold the Super 8
stage Matches at Nagpur, Maharashtra in January 2024.
Kaif expressed his excitement, saying, “I am honoured and delighted to be
associated with Nagesh Trophy. Cricket for the Blind is an inspiring thought
and the players’ dedication and talent deserve recognition and I support
Cricket for the Blind. I look forward to contributing to the growth of cricket
for the blind in India and wish to be part of their incredible journey.”
CABI Chairman Dr Mahantesh G Kivadasannavar said, “Nagesh Trophy is the
time to celebrate the cricketing talents of the visually impaired and I am sure
the 6th edition will help us to identify the new talent to nurture them to be
cricketers who will bring laurels to mother India in the future. I place on
record the continuous support that we have received in celebrating the talents
of our cricketers over the years.”
Nagesh Trophy Chairman Yogesh Taneja said, “I am happy to inform that
Nagesh Trophy is held in different parts of India to promote cricket for the
blind in smaller cities. This shows the commitment of CABI in promoting Cricket
which will help all of us to build an inclusive society through Cricket for the
Blind.”
The league matches of the 6th edition of the Nagesh Trophy will be played
across seven venues namely, Jammu, Dehradun (Uttarakhand), Kochi (Kerala),
Chandigarh, Tripura, and Kota (Rajasthan). A total of 28 Teams (State /UTs and
an Indian Railways team which is represented by the Visually Impaired working
in Railways) will play in the T20 format Tournament.
At least 28 teams are divided based on the last year’s ranking into 6
groups. The first 4 groups have 5 teams each and the last 2 teams have 4 teams
each.
The 5th edition had the joint winners (Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka) due
to the rain. Odisha has won the Nationals once while Andhra Pradesh has emerged
victorious in the finals of the tournament 3 times.
Group A: Group A brings together teams from Andhra Pradesh, Haryana,
Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.
Group B: Group B brings together teams from various parts of the country,
including Karnataka, Delhi, Maharashtra, Pondicherry, and Uttarakhand.
Group C: In Group C, the stage is set for a competitive showdown as
Odisha, Jharkhand, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar face off.
Group D: Group D is a collection of teams, featuring Gujarat, Chandigarh,
West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, and Telangana.
Group E: Jammu & Kashmir, Railway, Punjab, and Goa will compete
against each other in Group E.
Group F: Group F comprises teams from the northeastern and central
regions of India. Manipur, Assam, Tripura, and Chhattisgarh will showcase their
athletic prowess.
Nagesh Trophy was launched in memory of SP Nagesh, Founder President, the
Cricket Association for the Blind in India and Founder Trustee, Samarthanam
Trust for the Disabled. The launch of the tournament brought together the
entire blind cricket community into one huge platform, by creating a milestone
in blind cricket history.
ANI
