Blind Cricket Makes its Debut in Bangladesh

Anna Chan:
Young blind cricket fans in Bangladesh are introduced to a slightly modified form of the sport tailored especially for them. Let's learn more about this up-and-coming sport.

Wearing dark glasses under a beating sun a group of cricketers in downtown Dhaka look like any other enthusiasts in the cricket-mad city.

But the young team are not just whacking balls far into the distance, they're making history as the first blind sportsmen to take up the game in Bangladesh.

As it flies through the air the batsmen and fielders track and react to the ringing sound of bells. A special white plastic ball has bells inside to alert batsmen and fieldsmen on each team. Teams are made up of four totally blind and seven partially sighted players.

Bowlers shout "play!" just before throwing the ball underarm.

16 year-old Abid Hossain is one of 33 participants. He lost his sight when he was five years-old after contracting typhoid.

[Abid Hossain, Blind Cricket Player]: (male, bengali)
"I am a blind student. I never thought that I would be a cricket player. When I came to know that there was a camp for blind people to learn how to play cricket I joined and now I am feeling very good. My goal is to become a good cricket player and one day I will play for Bangladesh to bring pride for the country."

Almost a dozen countries around the world now play the slightly-adapted game, played with a standard bat on a field that is two-thirds the size of a normal wicket. At the moment Pakistan is the World Cup title-holder. Over there, matches have been held for more than ten years.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• ntd
• ntdtv
• news
• blind
• cricket
• bangladesh
• sports

[Prindentime]

Everyone who is being a wanker, please piss off. They have a disability which means they cannot see. Get fucking over it.

[Rasterius]

very good to see that.

[1harim]

@Smeato1994

who r u?

[Hiroturo]

@bakaranger1991 It's cool man. No worries. :)

[bakaranger1991]

@Hiroturo Thanks. Sorry for being a retard with you.

[Hiroturo]

@bakaranger1991 Freedom of speech gives them the right to do it. Doesn't mean it's right though. I get pretty worked up when I see stupid comments too. I admit that I have argued with people about comments they have made in the past but now I try to ignore it. It's fine, I know what it's like so I accept your apology.

[bakaranger1991]

@Hiroturo What gives other people the right to troll the internet abusing other people? Tell me that first. Other people talk trash about my people. And you expect me to stay quiet? I would definitely use harsh words against them. But, I did go overbord with you. So, I apologize for what I said.

[Hiroturo]

@bakaranger1991 What gives you the right to troll the internet abusing people? I answered it because I'm not going to ignore a message calling me a "fucking UKJAP cunt", "fucking retard", "fucking honky pig". I jus tnoticed that you told me to go play baseball with my "blind retards in UK or JAPLAND." Wow, pretty hypocritical aren't you? This is the third time I'm telling you that I didn't make the comment. The comment didn't call them retards anyway so learn to read.

[bakaranger1991]

@Hiroturo Point taken.

[Hiroturo]

@bakaranger1991 I have already said that a lot of people use my account as I leave it logged on. I can't control what other people say or do on here. Seems like you enjoy calling people retarded. That explains your general mind set and attitude. Just lay off and stop being such an asshole. Of course I've never suffered from blindness you stupid bastard... I don't go around insulting blind people and I'm sure whoever made this comment doesn't either...

[bakaranger1991]

@Hiroturo What? You didn't make this comment? LOL. Nice try. I met a lot of retarded people. But, You must be the first one who denied this. And I will tell you something. I bet you have never suffered from blindness. So, you won't understand how it feels. SO, Warning , Never insult blind people again. But, you probebly won't listen. You people insult them because they are black, right? I am not interested to know if you are yellow or white. You are just a retard+rasist.

[bakaranger1991]

@Hiroturo Yeah! Why the fuck did you answer anyway? What gives you the right to to call them fucking retards? Just because they are blind or epic fail? I have every right to insult you. A retard like you should just go to HELL. They are not blind by choice. I don't need respect from a disgusting retarded person like you.