Mani supports Deaf World Cup

ICC President Ehsan Mani believes the Deaf Cricket World Cup in India will be a massive success story © Getty Images

Lucknow in India is gearing up for the second Deaf Cricket World Cup with ICC President Ehsan Mani predicting an excellent standard of cricket to entertain the supporters.

The World Cup is under the aegis of DCIF and is being organised jointly by Uttar Pradesh Non Olympic Association and the Uttar Pradesh Deaf Cricket Association under the patronage of TANSAI (Traditional, Ancient & Non Olympic Sports Association of India) and AICAD (All India Cricket Association of the Deaf).

Competing countries will include India (host), Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, England, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh. The Round Robin competition of nine teams totalling 36 matches will be played at K.D.Singh Babu Stadium, Chowk Stadium, Gomti Nagar Stadium and L.D.A Stadium, Aliganj.

Australia won the inaugural World Cup in 1995/96, defeating Great Britain by five wickets. Commenting on the event, Mani said: “For an event to be called a World Cup it needs to be something that includes countries from all over the globe and this tournament certainly fulfils that criterion.

“With nine outstanding squads, including Bangladesh and Nepal for the first time, I am certain the standard of cricket will be excellent, and I am equally certain Lucknow will prove to be an outstanding choice as the location for the tournament.

“Special mentions should be made of the All India Cricket Association of the Deaf and the organising committee for the tournament for their efforts in pulling together all the logistics required to ensure the undoubted success of this event.

“Thanks, too, should go to the Government of Uttar Pradesh for their support in making this tournament possible.

“The second Deaf World Cup shows our game can touch individuals who may never even have heard the unmistakably magical sound of leather on willow. It proves once again that cricket is a game without boundaries.”