Visually impaired cricketers from the six Caribbean countries will get a chance to display their skills at a tournament organised exclusively for them and the best among them will find a place in a West Indies team.

The tournament will be played in Trinidad between March 24 and April 1, and the Trinidad and Tobago government has agreed to underwrite its cost amounting to 58,000. T&T Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Gary Hunte said that the government accepted a proposal from Bhawani Persad, the president of the Blind Cricket Association of T&T. Persad said the competition will lead to the selection of a West Indies team to oppose England in "a goodwill tournament in August". The regional team will be selected following the completion of the Caribbean game. According to Persad, the final team will first travel to Barbados for a live-in camp where they will take on an England Under-19 Team. He pointed out that the team will leave for England to face the home team in three matches, one of which he expected to be played at the Lord's. "I am happy that funding has been given for this initiative and it shows that the public has now accepted blind cricket," Persad added. Forbes Persaud, chief executive officer of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board of Control (TTCB), welcomed "the support to the blind cricketers as it ensures everyone is involved in the sport". Persaud said that there was a tendency in society to see and treat blind cricketers differently. "The mere fact that they are involved in sports says a lot, because healthy bodies lead to better minds," Persaud added. Proceeds of the tournament will go towards the Blind Cricket Association of T&T.