No proper grounds for visually-impaired team

Pakistan captain Abbasi laments lack of facilities for World Cup preparations.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Blind Cricket team captain Zeeshan Abbasi revealed that the national team is facing hurdles in its World Cup preparations due to the unavailability of a proper ground for the visually-impaired players in the country.

The Blind Cricket World Cup will be staged in Cape Town, South Africa from November 25.

Abbasi, who made his international debut in 2000, said that the players have to go from pillar to post for arranging grounds for training and organising matches whenever they require such facilities.

The captain further said that his team has won two back-to-back Blind Cricket World Cups in 2002 and 2006, but still have to make-do with whatever is available since no one is there to help them construct a proper ground.“I request the government to help us in this regard so that we can improve our game,” said Abbasi.

“We have 45 kanals of land at Ferozepur, Lahore but the Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC) is short on funds to build a stadium and hostel.  A helping in this regard by the higher authorities will solve all our problems.”

Speaking about the preparations for the mega event, Abbasi revealed that training camps will be organized for the team after Ramzan.

He added that India and South Africa would be the toughest opponents in the upcoming World Cup.

“Hopefully, we will be 100% prepared for them in the mega event and will bring home a third trophy as well.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 29^th, 2014.

Like Sports on Facebook, follow @ETribuneSports on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.