Indian blind cricket team captain hopeful of BCCI affiliation

Indian blind cricket team captain Ajay Kumar Reddy has said that he is awaiting a positive response from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), regarding the recognition to the Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI).

The members of the team, which recently won the Blind Cricket World Cup, were felicitated by Union Social Justice and Empowerment minister Thawar Chand Gehlot on Wednesday.

Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Reddy said, "We are in talks with the BCCI. Blind Cricket Association also has a meeting with BCCI in Mumbai and we received a positive response. The BCCI board members also had a meeting among themselves. We are waiting for an affiliation now."

The Indian blind cricket team was formed in 1998 and is currently being managed by the Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI), an independent entity backed by the Samarthanam Trust, a non-profit organisation.

After winning the Blind Cricket World Cup, CABI president GK Mahantesh and the players have asked the BCCI to recognise Blind Cricket Association.

Recently, legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar also wrote to the BCCI to consider affiliation of the blind cricket body with the Indian cricket governing body.