The evolution of the glorious game of cricket has seen new entrant T20 add another dimension to the sport galvanising its popularity with the mainstream masses.

Cricket in India is undeniably a religion and the country has enthusiastically embraced the Indian Premier League and all its trimmings.  In keeping with the development of the game, the Association for Cricket for the Blind in India (ACBI ) is organising the  inaugural Indian Blind Cricket League (IBCL) in February 2010 in the country’s capital New Delhi.

The ACBI was set up in 1996 and hosted the first two Blind Cricket World Cups. The Association strongly believes that cricket can be used to transmit the poignant message of outstanding ability and talent to society. No obstacle keeps the true athlete away and one only has to see a blind cricket match to validate this. Relying on audio sounds of the rattling cricket ball, play is acutely instinctive and at times- absolutely breathtaking.

A hundred and twelve of the country’s best players will be selected from Talent Scouting Camps (TSCs) to be held in November, 2009 across the four zones in sixteen cities: Delhi, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Lucknow, Bangalore, Chennai, Cochin, Hyderabad, Argatala, Bhubhaneshwar, Kolkata, Shillong, Ahmedabad, Indore, Jodhpur and Pune. Eight teams will be formed comprising of players from all four zones in each individual team and they will battle it out in an exciting League come knock- out basis annually. The chosen teams will provide cricketers for the national team to be entered in the Blind Cricket World Cup 2011.

The IBCL really is set to become a monumental chapter in the history of cricket in the sub-continent. It is not time to return to the pavilion just yet…

IBCL 2010 New Delhi.

Cricket connoisseurs shall definitely be there, will you?

Those wishing to get involved can email the ACBI at blindcricketindia@gmail.com. The new website is currently under construction and will be up shortly.