THREE Guyanese – Leroy Phillips, Ganesh Singh and Kevin Douglas – have been selected to play on the West Indies team in the World Cup Blind Cricket T20 that is scheduled for India in January.

While the players are excited and ready to perform, the only problem is that the total cost for them to get to India amounts to more than $3M, and they are not quite sure where this money will come from.

But Manager for the Guyana Blind Cricket Team, Ms. Theresa Pemberton, is adamant that the three cricketers must go to represent Guyana and the West Indies, and she said she has a good feeling that things will work out just fine.

Ten teams – India, South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, West Indies, England, New Zealand, Nepal and Australia – are participating this time around, and each team comprises 16-17 players.

In an interview with this newspaper a few days ago, Pemberton, also the Treasurer for the Guyana Blind Cricket Association and Treasurer for the West Indies Blind Cricket Organisation, explained that while Phillips and Singh are totally blind, Douglas is partially sighted.

The three are being prepared for a training camp in Jamaica where they will remain until it’s time to travel to India. Fly Jamaica Airways, which has often provided support for such an activity, is currently being consulted for some sponsorship.

The 99th Hour

The last time the West Indies sent a team to India, four years ago, Guyana could not participate because no finances were available.

“We are hoping (that the funds will be provided), because it makes us feel embarrassed when we go to regional tournaments and our players are being selected,” Pemberton said.

“In 2012, we didn’t get sponsorship for our player to go. Guyana wasn’t represented and that was really bad because it was just one person. No one stepped forward, no matter how much we begged.”

Like every other country that jumps at the opportunity to send their players, Ms. Pemberton said it is hoped that the Sports Department here and the Ministry of Sports would do all in its power to assist the players in getting to India.

“Take Trinidad for example. From the moment they are going to a regional tournament, or they have selectees going to a West Indies tournament, the Sports Department pays for their tickets right off. So the organization doesn’t have that on their shoulders to worry about, unlike Guyana where down to the 99th hour, we have to be begging and calling and pleading and letting them know it is important for our players to go.”

The Ministry of Education, the Director of Sport and the Cricket Board have already been written to.

“We haven’t gotten any response from them with regard to the financial aspect of going. We know we can depend on the Director of Sports (Christopher Jones) to give us what is in his capacity, but the bulk of it has to come from the Ministry of 9Education),” observed Ms. Pemberton.

Meanwhile, to acquire visas for India, the Indian High Commission in Trinidad advised all the participating countries to have the Ministers of Sport apply to the Indian High Commission in their country to waive the visas.

“Minister [Nicolette] Henry (Minister within the Ministry of Education) has sent that letter off to the Indian High Commission and we are now awaiting (for it to be approved) so that we can take in our documents and have the visas put in the passports. And that is where we are at now.”

In addition to various fund-raising activities that will be organized, some agencies have been written to offset the costs for meals and accommodation while the three are in Jamaica.

A vehicle for empowerment

Ms. Pemberton said blind cricket will continue to be lobbied for as it is a catalyst for empowerment of persons who are blind and visually impaired.

“For example, Ganesh Singh became a recluse when he got totally blind at age 17. He became like a house furniture never going any place and was protected by his family. In 2005 when Guyana embarked on blind cricket, he heard it on the radio and called to find out how he could get involved. He came down the afternoon very timid and when he realized he was with blind young persons like himself; after his second training session with us, he never looked back.

“It shows where sports on the whole is a vehicle to empowering people and blind cricket will continue to be a vehicle that we will use for our blind and visually impaired persons. We are hoping that in raising awareness, the public will see the need to support the three blind cricketers and assist them in going.

“The blind in Guyana is doing a lot. The blind and the deaf are the vehicle for persons with disability. The blind looks out for all disabilities. We are hoping that the government and corporate Guyana can see the purpose of what we’re doing and support us,” expressed Pemberton.
Meanwhile, blind cricket is played with a hard plastic ball, a special ball that makes a very strong sound. The stumps are laid out like conventional cricket but without bails on them. The umpire usually guides the blind persons back to the stump, which they use as a gauge to bowl.

The players are bowled underhand style and when they are about to be bowled, they are asked: “Batsman, are you ready?” When the batsman replies in the affirmative, the bowler then says, “Play!”