India Beat Pakistan In T20 Series And Opening ODI

India's blind cricket team has defeated Pakistan's blind cricket team in a T20 three match series winning by two games to one. 

The Pakistan team  began the series with their own share of problems since two of their key players were held up in Islamabad because of visa problems and captain Abdul Rasak was forced to sit on the sidelines having been injured in practice session before the first game. 

The two players who experienced visa problems arrived just in time to participate in the third game and saw their side to a win. 

A major highlight of the tournament was the five wicket hall by a totally blind bowler Mahindra, from India, in game 2 which helped India to seal the three match series.

India then followed it up with a five-wicket win in the opening One-Day International.

India’s Captain Shekar Naik won the toss and put  Pakistan to bat. Pakistan started positively, with the openers getting off to a great start by adding 51 runs for the first wicket. India’s main stream bowler Ajay got the break through by removing Yaseer. 

Mohammed Akram added a brilliant 73 in 44 balls, with 11 boundaries.  The No. 7 batsman Mohammed Fayaz, batted exceptionally well with the tail-enders by scoring an unbeaten  96 to help Pakistan to reach 352.

Chasing the huge target of 353, India lost there first 2 wickets before reaching the 50-run mark and at one stage they were at 90-3 in the 13th over.  Things weren't looking good for them until Ajay Kumar Reddy joined with the opener Ganesh Busara for the 4th wicket and turned the game around for India. These two piled up runs with ease by scoring 197 runs in 111 balls.

Ajay was run out 76 runs in 53 balls (8 fours). Ganesh continued his knock for a comfortable victory of  India . He remained unbeaten on 156 in 112 balls (12 fours and 1 five).  India reached the target of 353 and won by 5 wickets with 18 balls to spare. This victory brought India to lead the 3 match series 1/0.

This Indo Pakistan Bilateral Blind Cricket series organized by Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI)

CABI is a registered non–profit organization affiliated to World Blind Cricket Association (WBCC) and Para Olympics Committee India conducting cricket for the blind across the country. The previous parent body running blind cricket has passed on the responsibilities to Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled that was hitherto playing a very active role organising blind cricket in the South Zone. As Samarthanam’s sports initiative, a separate body – CABI has been formed exclusively to run blind cricket across the country.

The bilateral series would set the tone  for the World Cup scheduled to be held in December 2012 in Bangalore. Ten countries - Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, West Indies, Sri Lanka and Nepal would be taking part in this event. CABI is affiliated to World Blind Cricket Council (WBCC), which is the apex body for blind cricket. This is the first ever T20 international cricket tournament for the blind involving several countries after such a long gap (almost  6 years).