At the world’s first T20 tournament for blind women, players from India and Pakistan set aside political strains on Sunday, sharing warm handshakes in Sri Lanka despite the tense relations between their countries.
Held in Katunayake near Colombo, the match demonstrated how the visually impaired athletes displayed genuine sportsmanship even as their sighted national teams have avoided such gestures in recent months. Since a deadly border clash in May, players from both nations have repeatedly skipped handshakes, including at the Asia Cup and the women’s T20 World Cup.
Initially, India’s blind women’s team seemed likely to follow suit when no handshake occurred at the toss. But after the match, both teams broke the pattern of hostility greeting one another warmly, exchanging compliments, and even travelling together on the same bus.
India clinched an eight-wicket victory, chasing down Pakistan’s 135-for-8 in just 10.2 overs. Pakistan captain Nimra Rafique praised India’s dominant performance, while Indian skipper T. C. Deepika commended Pakistan’s efforts.
Though the ground saw few spectators, Sri Lanka’s national broadcaster aired the match live. Blind Sri Lankan officials involved in hosting followed the action via YouTube commentary.
Indian team manager Shika Shetty told AFP before play that this inaugural World Cup marked a major breakthrough for visually impaired women, encouraging more girls with disabilities to pursue both education and sport.
Blind cricket is based heavily on sound, using a white plastic ball filled with ball bearings to help players track movement. Pakistan coach Tahir Mehmood Butt noted that the sport has opened new avenues for young women in Pakistan as well.
Teams must include a mix of players with varying levels of visual impairment: at least four completely blind cricketers, three with limited vision up to two metres, and four partially sighted players able to see up to six metres. Totally blind batters may rely on partially sighted runners, and all bowling is delivered underarm.
The tournament features six nations : India, Pakistan, Australia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and the United States. After beginning in India, it has moved to Sri Lanka for the final stages, with the championship match set for next Sunday in Colombo
