Srinagar: Cricket Association for Blind Jammu and Kashmir offcilas have said that the Blind cricket in J&K is receiving squint-eyed treatment from Sports Council and J&K Cricket Association.
The officials said this during concluding ceremony of the UT Level Cricket Tournament for blind on Sunday.
Senior Editor Times Now, Pradeep Dutta honoured the winners and the runners-up teams, players at Guru Harkrishan Public School ground, Nanak Nagar, Jammu during the concluding ceremony.
Over fifty differently abled cricketers took part in the tournament and in the finals CAB J&K Team-B defeated Tam-A in a tough contest to lift the title trophy.
International player, Irfan Ahmed Mir and Man of the Series, Surjeet Singh were felicitated by the Chief Guest on the occasion.
The tournament was organised to pick J&K team for the prestigious Nagesh Trophy.
Speaking on the occasion,
Dutta lavished praise on the organisers, especially General Secretary Cricket Association for Blind Jammu and Kashmir (CABJ&K) for holding the event in a most befitting manner, adding that these differently abled sportspersons make disability as their ability and serve as inspiration for the general public.
“Raaste Pe Chalna Har Ek Ko Aata Hai. Lekin Raaste Banana Ek Badi Baat Hai. Dekhye Woh Jo Hosla Aap Ke Paas Hai, Woh Jo Himmat Hai, Jo Jazba Hai Kis Ki Wajah Se Aap Kudh Apne Raaste Banaate. Aap Farishte Ho,” said Dutta in typical Urdu in appreciation of these differently abled sportspersons.
He said it was the duty of everyone including the Government, the J&K Sports Council, the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association and all other people to pat and promote specially abled athletes, besides providing them assistance for holding events.
He futher said that these sportspersons possess all that was required to blossom at the higher levels and the only need was to encourage them.
Meanwhile, the General Secretary of CAB J&K, Ajay Kumar and International player, Irfan Ahmed Mir batted for government support and assistance for developing infrastructure and promoting blind cricketers.
They also appealed to the authorities in J&K Sports Council and Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association to treat them like other sportspersons.
“Receiving squint-eyed treatment from the authorities hurts us. We should get equal rights. There should be provision of jobs for specially abled sportspersons also. It will serve as a motivator for us to continue playing and excelling.
We humbly appeal to LG Manoj Sinha Sir to take initiative in this regard,” added Ajay Kumar.
He extended thanks to Principal Guru Harkrishan Public school for providing ground facility and refreshment to the players.