Cricket for Building lives, Changing mind sets.
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>View discussions about this entry Country: India
Organization: Score Foundation
Sport: Cricket
Year the initative began (yyyy) 1990
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Positioning in the Mosaic of solutions
What is your signature innovation, your new idea, in one sentence? Using cricket to develop and demonstrate Ability, in the process help include blind and visually impaired young people into the mainstream
Describe your innovation. What makes your idea unique and different than others doing work in the field? Promoting cricket for the blind with the objective of
a. Using cricket to make blind people into confident, competent and competitive human beings. Unlike others working in the field, Cricket provides for a very engaging, enjoyable and exciting platform for rehabilitation and moving ahead in life. What are the existing barriers, the biggest problem, your innovation is hoping to address/change? a. There are over 14 million blind people in India and a further 28 million with low vision
b. The blind and visually impaired people are generally denied the opportunities – normal childhood, education, training, recreation, careers…. c. Traditionally, the family, and society have doubts regarding the ability and potential of the blind d. The problem is not really about the eye, it is abut mind sets Cricket for the blind strives to get the focus on the ability Delivery Model: How do you implement your innovation and apply it to the challenge/problem you are addressing? a. Organise State, Zonal and National level cricket tournaments
b. Establish an organization to administrate, manage and promote the game. c. Organise cricket clinics and coaching camps at the State and National level d. Use media at all levels to promote the game e. Involve celebrities and influential people as Patrons, Brand Ambassadors and advisors to help promote the game f. Internationalise the game to raise aspirations and ambitions of the blind players g. Work towards collaborations and affiliations with mainstream sports bodies and the Gov’t Cricket is a religion in India. Blind people love their cricket. The game provides for a win win platform that attracts both the blind and the sighted members of the society. How do you plan to grow your innovation? a. Annual National level tournaments are organized
b. Since 1994 Zonal tournaments are being organized leading onto a National tournament c. In several States of the country, State level tournaments also started being organized d. In 1996, ACBI(Association for Cricket for the Blind in India) was setup to manage the game in India e. World Blind Cricket Council-WBCC was setup in 1996 too during a meeting at New Delhi. f. South Africa, England, Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India were the Founding Members. g. Since inception Nepal and the West Indies have been added on h. Three World Cups have been organized. Two in India and the third in Pakistan in 1998, 2002 and 2006 respectively i. There have been several bilateral cricket series too. j. Efforts are on to align with the International Cricket Council k. Also planning to make the game inclusive so as to include both blind and sighted players. If this happens, it would be a major breakthrough Provide one sentence describing your impact/intended impact. Created international opportunities for blind cricketers and provided them with a pastime that contributes greatly to their personality and character
What impact has your innovation had to date/or what is your intended impact? Exactly who are the beneficiaries? a. An annual National blind cricket programme has been established
b. Three World Cups have been organized. The first two in India and the third in Pakistan c. Huge amount of media coverage has happened d. Blind cricket has thrown up a number of insightful stories on blindness in the media e. Cricket has created huge opportunities of travel for the blind and with it comes a huge amount of exposure f. Cricket has also provided the blind cricketers to understand, appreciate and experience the diversity that India as a country has to offer g. Cricket has also provided a platform for the blind people to interact with their peers from overseas h. Organisations working with the blind has over the years begun appreciating the value of sport and have begun encouraging their students to take up the game i. With India’s good showing in he third World Cup and the 5-0 beating of England, there has been a conscious effort to focus on physical fitness j. A reasonable amount of awareness has come about resulting in sport finding a mention in the National 5 year plans The beneficiaries are essentially the blind young children and youth
Please list any other measures reflective of the impact of your innovation? Once cricket began to be promoted in the media a number of people with blind children in rural areas of India, Pakistan and other countries of the subcontinent start saying “if the blind play cricket, they must be going to school too”. Yes people started realizing that there was more to the blind person’s life than just being the poor blind guy. In India many blind girls have also started expressing there interest in the game. Women’s blind cricket may not befarbehind
What are the main barriers to creating or achieving your impact? a. Sponsorship and funding for a sport is difficult
b. Getting good quality people to get involved is a challenge c. Unlike Australia and the US, India is not a sporting Nation. Sport is not taken very seriously particularly when we talk of sport for the disabled d. Sport for the disabled is seen by many as charity. Have to compete with other charities which are perceived as more critical How is your initiative financed (or how do you expect your initiative will be financed)? We believe that “Sponsorship recognizes the Ability while charity recognizes the Disability”. Our support has come from:
a. Corporate sponsors b. International Funding Agencies c. Private Trusts d. Public Sector Undertakings e. Individual donations We do get individual donations too, but we do not actively chase this. If known, provide information on your finances and organization. All financial information can be provided upon request
What is the potential demand for your innovation? The demand is huge. Cricket is a mania in the country. It has a huge following across the countries where the game is played. Countries like India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have huge numbers of blind people. The number of people who might potentially play could run into thousands.
In addition, the media is open to writing about cricket and its social relevance and implications What are the main barriers to financial sustainability? a. Most funders do not see sport as a priority activity
b. Sport for the blind seen as a charity. Has to compete for funds with other issues like livelihoods, health, education etc. c. Quality fund raisers do not come cheap. Often they are beyond the reach of voluntary organisations What is the origin of this innovation? Tell us your story. • The blind were initiated to the sport through radio commentary.
• In the 1970s, blind people were seen playing cricket with empty tins as the ball and sticks as the bat. This was the beginning of the audio game. • With the passing of time the sticks changed to bats and tins changed into audio balls. The National Institute for the visually handicapped developed the ball (hard plastic ball with ball bearings inside) that is in use today. • A team from Australia visited New Delhi and played a couple of matches with the Blind Relief Association in the early 1980s. A team from Sri Lanka visited Gujarat in the mid 1980s. A team from Bangalore visited England around the same time. • In 1988, the Annual Gujarat Cup was started. Teams from all over Gujarat participate in this tournament. • In 1990 , National Tournaments were initiated by me where teams from all over the country participated • I, as a youngster dreamt of being a tare away fast bowler inspired by the legendary Dennis Lillee • Being visually impaired I had to give up the game, once I got to college • Till in 1989 I saw the blind playing the game at Dehradun using the audio ball. I was fascinated • I saw my opportunity for making a contribution to the game that I was obsessed with and at the same time I saw the wonders that it could do in the blind cricketers life Thus began my incredible cricketing journey. Please provide a personal bio. Note this may be used in Changemakers marketing material. a. Born on 31st October, 1958
b. Masters in Operations Research from St.Stephen’s College, Delhi University c. 1981-89 worked in the advertising industry d. Promoted cricket for the blind since 1990 e. Established WBCC in 1996 and was its founding Chairman till 2004 Organized the 1st two World Cups of Cricket for the blind f. Co-authored a book on Inclusive Education g. Setup Magiktuch, a platform to promote blind musicians h. Setup Eyeway, a single stop Information Help Desk on the Eye and Blindness Contact Information:
George Abraham
CEO Score Foundation (NGO) Discussions about this entry |
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Hi George,
You mentioned in your entry that cricket for women with visual impairments is not far behind...
What steps is your organisation currently making or planning to make to promote cricket for women in the communities that you serve in India?
Have you already tried some strategies for including women and what type of barriers to you anticipate in encourage women of all ages in India to get involved in cricket for the blind.
I look forward to hearing some more detail in this area.
Best regards,
Jackie Lauff
Free University Berlin
University Challenge
"Cricket is a religion in India," you tell us, George, and, "blind people love their cricket." You exemplify that yourself in that you've taken your own visual impairment and love of the game and used these as motivation for making cricket available for many others with sight difficulties.
Two things stand out in your entry. First, you demonstrate how many Commonwealth nations on the Indian Subcontinent and throughout the world share an appreciation for cricket, no matter their religious, social, or cultural differences. So your efforts are truly bridge-building. Second, your ultimate goal of creating a playing environment where both blind and sighted players might share a pitch is worthy of our greatest respect.
Steve Byars
Marshall School of Business
University of Southern California
Thanks Steve. I totally agree with your comments. Sport certainly has the potential of bringing people together. We have seen blind sportsmen from different Nationalities and ethnic backgrounds competing and interacting on the playing field in perfect harmony. The big question is whether we really recognise this potential? Getting support for such a platform in India is indeed a challenge.