THE local team participating in the ninth Regional Blind Cricket Tournament to be held July 8 to 16 will depart Guyana shortly for Trinidad and Tobago.The 14-member squad will be selected today (Sunday) to play against teams from Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago.

The Blind Cricket Association (BCA) includes players from Georgetown, Linden, Region Six, the Essequibo Coast and Region Four. “These are players who are from three categories: B1 (totally blind), B2 (partially sighted), and B3 (with better vision).

But all persons, in order for them to play blind cricket, have to be legally blind and this means 10 percent or less of your vision.

“On a team of 11, you have four B 3’s, four B 1’s and three B 2’s. B 3’s are like the wicket keepers, out fielders, captains and so forth. Everyone is required to field; all are required to bat if necessary; the B 1’s would have a runner for them. B 1’s must bowl 40 percent of the overs in any game,” BCA board member and player Ganesh Singh explained.

“Guyana has been playing blind cricket for the past ten years. This was officially launched in 2006 and we have officially participated in a number of regional tournaments over the years. We hosted in 2009,” Singh noted.

The rules of Blind Cricket are very similar to regular cricket and the game is played bowling under-hand and with a hard plastic white ball that has beads in it. “When it is being rolled to the batsman under-hand, he would hear when it’s coming. So the game is all about listening,” said Singh.

Acting President of the BCA, Cecil Morris, said blind cricket enhances the lives of blind persons and gives them a higher level of confidence that helps them move forward academically and become well rounded out individuals.

He reminded that there is no age barrier. “Once you’re fit, you can play cricket. And there is no gender bias. It’s a good therapy for anyone who has lost their sight than sitting around doing nothing. It proves that life is not just sitting down and being a blind person.”

Team Manager Theresa Pemberton told Chronicle that blind cricket has been a strong vehicle for young blind persons and has brought out the best in them.

She expressed thanks to the Government of Guyana, the Guyana Cricket Board, all corporate sponsors, and the National Sports Commission.

Guyana will hold the 10th regional tournament next year and the BCA is hoping that sponsors will generously support the tournament.