Ajit Wadekar remembered as a supporter of cricket for disabled players

Former Indian cricketer Ajit Wadekar is no more but he will always be remembered as the one who promoted cricket for the disabled in India.

It was in the year 1971 when he returned to India from England after winning the historic Test series, that Wadekar decided to enforce the idea of cricket for players with disabilities.

In 1988, Wadekar set up the All India Cricket Association for Physically Challenged – AICAPC.

AICAPC is the first formal body in India for disabled cricketers. All his life Wadekar continued to support the AICAPC. He had to struggle a lot to make the association work as there was no financial support and recognition from the BCCI.

He used to work alone and arrange the funding to keep the disabled cricket going in the country. Wadekar used to arrange the sponsors that would allow the tournaments for disabled cricket to take place.

Ajit Wadekar passed away in Mumbai on 15 August at the age of 77 years. He had been ill for quite some time.

To honour the memory of the great player and human being, an inter-state T20 tournament for physically disabled cricketers is all set to be named after Ajit Wadekar.

The tournament will begin in Haryana over the weekend.