LAHORE: Pakistan’s champion blind cricket team returned home from India Monday and said they were hoping for an “eye-catching” performance from their sighted countrymen at next year’s World Cup.
“Pakistan is one of the best teams in the world and can win the World Cup if they play up to their potential and we wish them all success,” blind team captain Abdur Razzaq told this agency. “Pakistan team can surprise any team on their day and are capable of producing an eye-catching show.” The blind cricketers returned home Monday after winning the second World Cup for the Blind in Chennai, India.
They beat India and Australia in the league phase and ousted England in the semi-final before downing South Africa in the final Saturday, avenging their defeat against the South Africans in the first world cup in 1998. “We have set the example of showing the best team spirit and hope that our national team follow suit and bring the best prize in cricket,” Razzaq said.
Pakistan’s national team is currently playing in South Africa ahead of the World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya next February and March. Razzaq advised Pakistan players to boost their intensity level. **“The Pakistan team’s main problem is lack of team spirit and if they show the best of coordination they can win every match,” ** he said.
Razzaq hoped the blind team will get due rewards for bringing home the Cup. “The Pakistan Cricket Board announced five million rupees ($86,000) for every player if they won the Cup but we have not yet received any reward.”
Blind cricket is played using a ball filled with beads, which is bowled underarm, and of the starting 11 players, four must be totally blind, three must have 20 to 25 percent vision and four must have 45 to 60 percent vision. —AFP
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