India on Thursday announced its 16-member squad for the first-ever Women’s T20 World Cup for the Blind, to be held from November 11–25 in New Delhi and Bengaluru.
The tournament will feature Australia, England, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the United States, with 21 league matches, two semi-finals and a final. Kathmandu was initially picked as a third host city, but an alternative venue is being considered due to the situation in Nepal.
The event is organised by the Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI), the cricketing arm of Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled.
“This World Cup is more than just a tournament – it is a celebration of courage, skill, and inclusion,” CABI chairman Mahantesh G. Kivadasannavar said. “Hosting it in India is a matter of pride, and I am confident our girls will rise to the occasion, inspire millions, and make the nation proud.”
India’s women’s visually impaired team won gold at the 2023 IBSA World Games, where cricket for the blind made its debut, defeating Australia in the final.
Squad:
B1 Categoy – Simu Das (Delhi), P. Karuna Kumari (Andhra Pradesh), Anu Kumari (Bihar), Jamuna Rani Tudu (Odisha), Kavya V (Karnataka).
B2 Category – Anekha Devi (Delhi), Basanti Hansdah (Odisha), Simranjeet Kour (Rajasthan), Sunita Sarathe (Madhya Pradesh), Parbati Marndi (Odisha).
B3 Category – Deepika T C (Karnataka, captain), Phula Soren (Odisha), Ganga S Kadam (Maharashtra, vice-captain), Kavya N R (Karnataka), Sushma Patel (Madhya Pradesh), Durga Yevle (Madhya Pradesh).