Press release and images on The 5th Dilmah National Blind Cricket tournament gets underway from Dilmah

The Dilmah National Blind Cricket tournament commenced on Saturday, April 30th. The Blind Cricket tournament consists of a number of elimination matches played over the months of May and June, with the last two winning teams set to meet in the finals scheduled to be played on the 25th of June.

The Blind Cricket Tournament organized by Dilmah which started in 2008, gives all teams registered with the Sri Lanka Cricket Association of the Visually Handicapped an opportunity to participate in a national level cricket tournament. It is an extension of the commitment by Dilmah Founder Merrill J. Fernando towards the dignified empowerment of the differently-abled of Sri Lanka.

Speaking on behalf of the teams Norbert Silva, Chairman of the Blind Cricket Association expressed his gratitude at the continuous support given by Dilmah and the MJF Charitable Foundation towards Blind Cricket. He said that with 1.7% of the Sri Lankan population being blind, support such as this was essential if blind cricket was to develop, as the tournaments helped them choose players for the National Team. Silva further said that he hoped that the tournament would help them identify many talented players, as he thanked the players for their dedication towards the sport.

The special equipment required for blind cricket as well as the kits for each of the players from all of the teams were handed over to the teams while official kits for the umpires were provided as well. The teams consist of players from three categories – fully blind, partially blind and partially sighted. Recently the Sri Lanka National Blind Cricket team participated in a blind cricket tournament in Pakistan. Altogether 37 matches are being played around Sri Lanka in the areas of Ratmalana, Moratuwa, Panadura, Katubedda, Piliyandala, Pelwaththa and Buthala. The best players during the tournament are selected for the National Team Blind Cricket Team to play for the next Blind Cricket World Cup.