Skip to main content
  • Accessibility
  • Headlines
  • Coronavirus-News
  • Get-Hooked
  • Technology
  • Education
  • Employment
  • Parasports
  • Ask Bhavna
  • NHBrandView
  • Independent Living
  • Lifestyle
  • NH Videos
×
Newz Hook – Changing Attitudes towards Disability Logo
  • Stories
  • Videos
  • Inclusive
  • NH Voice
  • Login
COVID-19 Notification by Government in Accessible Format

Accessibility Tools

Text Size:

Contrast Scheme:

  • C
  • C

Reset

  • Home
  • Parasports
  • ‘Saurav Ganguly has disappointed us’ says physically disabled cricket association official

‘Saurav Ganguly has disappointed us’ says physically disabled cricket association official

Saurav Ganguly, Indian cricket board chief
Parasports July 27, 2020
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
0

In a strong attack on Board of Control for Cricket in India Chief Saurav Ganguly, Ravi Chauhan, Secretary General of the Physically Challenged Cricket Association of India has said that Ganguly has disappointed India’s disabled cricketers. He said that Ganguly had done little to help the disabled cricketers who are struggling during the lockdown.

“Dada disappoints Disabled Cricketers”

A strongly worded statement issued by Ravi Chauhan, Secretary General of the Physically Challenged Cricket Association of India (PCCAI).

In a press release, Chauhan has attacked Saurav Ganguly, President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and former India captain for showing complete indifference towards the plight of disabled cricketers who are facing many struggles during the coronavirus lockdown.

Speaking for blind, deaf and physically disabled cricketers, Chauhan said that various media reports of their desperate plight had failed to move Ganguly or the BCCI committee.

Disabled cricketers face severe financial crisis

When Saurav Ganguly was elected as the President of BCCI, many had hoped that Saurav would change the fate of BCCI as he had done with the Indian cricket when he first became the captain of national team. Specially the disabled cricketers were very hopeful that someone would finally look into their matter and change their lives. Their hopes further were raised when there were couple of meetings between the disabled cricketers and Dada. But nothing has materialised till now. And the hope has turned into disappointment. – Ravi Chauhan, Secretary General, Physically Challenged Cricket Association of India

From former blind cricket captain Shekhar Naik to Uttarakhand physically disabled cricket captain Rajendra Singh Dhami, various media reports have highlighted the severe financial stress faced by disabled cricketers. While Naik lost his job after lockdown and was forced to sell his wife’s gold jewellery, Dhami has taken up manual labour to make ends meet.

Uttarakhand captain takes up manual work

Speaking to NewzHook, Dhami, who also led the Indian side in many international series, said he was left with no choice.

“I have a 90% disability and have no means of livelihood at present. Before the lockdown I worked in the hotel industry in Gujarat but that has shut down during this pandemic. I returned to my village and have taken up work under the MNREGA scheme building roads and bridges”.

Dhami now earns ₹ 200 a day doing manual labour and says he will continue to do this until matches start again.“There is no choice as I have elderly parents and a brother depending on me”.

Chauhan told NewzHook that the crisis facing physically disabled cricketers could have been avoided had the BCCI set up a committee to look into the affairs of physically disabled cricket.

“When the Lodha Committee had recommended
 to form a Disability Cricket Committee for the development of the Physically Challenged Cricket in India, the BCCI was forced to adopt it in
its new Constitution”, says Chauhan.

Page 70, Clause F of the newly adopted BCCI Constitution mandates the formation of a ‘Differently Abled
Cricket Committee’ to select disabled national teams across age groups.

BCCI fails to set up committee for disabled cricket


“But such has been the audacity of the BCCI that they are ready to knock the doors of Supreme Court for extension of the newly formed BCCI officials, but have no time or intention to abide by its own 
Constitution”, says Chauhan. “The result of this behaviour is that Disabled cricket that includes blind, wheelchair, Deaf and Dumb Cricket is still not
 recognised in India and hence the players who are part of these teams get absolutely no assistance or no recognition from any quarters of the society”.

Chauhan says that in a meeting last year Ganguly promised to address their concerns. “He said a decision would be made in two weeks’ time. That was seven months ago”.

The pandemic, he says, has made the already precarious financial condition of the disabled cricketers worse.


“All that these players want is equal opportunity. The cricket boards of England, South Africa and even Pakistan have got a disability wing, but for some reason BCCI has completely overlooked this issue in this country”.

The desperate situation of the physically disabled cricket team has been taken note of by former Australia captain Steve Waugh and his manager Harley Metcalfe. They have come together to launch a fundraising campaign to support them during the pandemic. An empathy and sensitivity that the BCCI seems to have forgotten.

Watch in Sign Language

Also Read:

  • High praise for India’s physically disabled cricketers in Steve Waugh’s upcoming book
0

Support us to make NewzHook Sustainable – Make a Contribution Today

We need your continued support to enable us work towards Changing Attitudes towards Disability. Help us in our attempt to share the voices of people with disabilities that enable them to participate in the society on an equal footing!

Contribute to Newz Hook

NH Videos

Multiple Sclerosis does not affect Anjali's love for Cooking

Read more on Newz Hook

  • Accessibility
    Top 10 Accessible Brands & Brand Campaigns Globally
  • Accessibility,Independent Living
    Affordable and Independent Mobility for Persons with Disabilities still a distant hope in India (series 1 of 3)
  • Accessibility
    Prof Stephen Hawking is the inspiration for this budding astrophysicist with CP
  • Get-hooked
    #GlaucomaAwarenessMonth – Early detection & treatment is critical to prevent permanent vision loss
  • Employment,Independent Living
    My journey from a hearing impaired individual to a Social Changemaker

Contribue to Newz Hook. Support us to make NewzHook Sustainable – Make a Contribution Today.

Newsletter

 Subscribe to our Newsletter

Want to feature your inspiring story or share an event with the disabled community? Write to:

editor@newzhook.com

Related News

Accessibility

Affordable and Independent Mobility for Persons with Disabilities still a distant hope in India (series 1 of 3)

Woman getting her eyes tested

Get-hooked

#GlaucomaAwarenessMonth – Early detection & treatment is critical to prevent permanent vision loss

Employment

My journey from a hearing impaired individual to a Social Changemaker

Tuhin Dey in a wheelchair with his mother

Accessibility

Prof Stephen Hawking is the inspiration for this budding astrophysicist with CP

Newz Hook - Accessible News

Download App Now!

Videos

View More

Get-hooked

Aasmaan Foundation’s new inclusive music video ‘Olangal’ is now creating waves on social media

Get-hooked

Veruschka Foundation starts online cooking modules for people with developmental disabilities

Parasports

“Government apathy towards para sports demotivates us” - MyTake by Ebin Joseph

Get-hooked

Understanding Spinal Cord Injury- SCI

Newz Hook Logo

About Newz Hook

Newz Hook is a media site focusing on Changing Attitudes towards Disability globally. We highlight stories that share insights into the lives of people with disabilities, offer solutions and create collaborations. Our focus is to have Inclusion Champions from across the globe who share knowledge about disability, inclusion & accessibility.

Lets come together to change attitudes towards disability!

Newz Hook is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Follow us on:

Related Links

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Partner with Newz Hook
  • Embed Newz Hook Timeline
  • Affiliate disclosure
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Contribute to Newz Hook

Our Awards

Zero Project Award Winner 2018
Back To Top
© 2019 All Right Reserved. Inclusive News India Private Limited.

Ask Bhavna

All fields are mandatory unless specified as optional.