Indian cricket board BCCI to honour physically disabled cricketers with cash rewards

Recognition finally coming the way of India’s physically disabled cricket team with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced that it will recognise their efforts on the field with cash rewards. India’s physically disabled cricketers recently lifted the trophy in the first T20 Physical Disability World Cricket Series.

Good news for India’s physically disabled cricket players coming from Diana Edulji, Member, Committee of Administrator (CoA) Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Edulji has said that the board will honour the physically disabled cricketers for lifting the trophy at the T20 Physical Disability World Cricket Series.

This was the first ever series and India beat hosts England by 36 runs in Worcester in August this year. The exact amount is not known as yet. Edulji also said a BCCI team is looking closely into ways to support the players.

“The players have to only concentrate on performing on the ground and everything else is being looked after and we are seeing to it that these policy matters are framed in our Constitution so that they cannot be changed after we are hand over the reigns on October 22 if the elections happens (on time),” said Edulji in Mumbai in the presence of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, adding “You are a part of the BCCI now. This is the beginning, play well, play hard and play to win”.

Edulji announced the news at an event held to felicitate members of India’s physically disabled cricket team and their support staff. Gadkari also assured the physically disabled cricketers of support and said that he would take up their problems with concerned colleagues in the Union Cabinet.

This is music to the ears of the physically disabled cricket team. Ramesh Naidu, a team member, told NewzHook, “This is exactly what we are aiming for and it makes me so happy. I hope this is the start of a new future for physically disabled cricket in India”.

Disability rights activist Pradeep Raj, a prominent figure in the field of para sports, hailed this as a “good decision”.

This is great news that the BCCI is finally recognising India’s physically disabled cricket team. I just hope they give the cash award directly to the players. If the awards go to the physically disabled cricket association, that may not help the players much as this is an umbrella organisation. – Pradeep Raj, Disability rights activist

Next on the agenda is the push to form a committee to govern physically disabled cricket in India as per the recommendations of a committee appointed by the Supreme Court of India.

Also Read: India Divyang Cricket team strike an upbeat note ahead of 1st T20 Physically Disabled Cricket World Series

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