Sports
Inaugural Blind T20 World Cup a resounding success
India lifted the inaugural Blind Cricket Women’s T20 World Cup on Sunday, brushing aside a gritty Nepal outfit in the Colombo final to underline their dominance in a tournament where they never once took their foot off the pedal.
Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister, Dr Harini Amarasuriya, carved time out of her packed schedule to share a moment with the athletes, moving freely among the players, congratulating them and saluting the event as a landmark for inclusion. “This World Cup is more than just a competition. It is a collective statement about access, equity and the growing participation of women in sport,” she noted — a message that hit the sweet spot on a day when cricket transcended boundaries.
India were unbeaten right through the competition, running through their five league games before sweeping aside Australia in the semi-finals. Nepal, meanwhile, pulled off the upset of the tournament when they toppled Pakistan in the other semi — a result that denied an epic India – Pakistan final.
In the final, Nepal’s total of 114 was always going to be well short against a strong Indian outfit. India eased home by seven wickets with eight overs to spare.
Sri Lanka and the United States were the other contestants in a tournament that showcased the global reach of the sport.
Cricketing meetings between nuclear-armed neighbours India and Pakistan have often been high-octane affairs, with players in recent months refusing to shake hands. But here, in the world of blind cricket, there were no bouncers, no bad blood. Players from both sides exchanged handshakes and warm words, a gentle reminder that sport, at its best, is still the great leveller.
The early stages of the event were staged in Bangalore and New Delhi before the knockout rounds moved to Colombo. Questions had hung in the air about how organisers would meet the hefty costs of hosting an event of this scale, but benefactors stepped up to keep the show on the road.
Prime Minister, Dr Harini Amarasuriya, carved time out of her packed schedule to share a moment with the athletes, moving freely among the players, congratulating them and saluting the event as a landmark for inclusion.
Among them was 95-year-old Chandra Schaffter — Sri Lanka’s oldest living cricketer — who has worked tirelessly behind the scenes. Fittingly, the Colombo leg was played at the historic P. Sara Oval, where he serves as Patron. The ground, which staged Sri Lanka’s maiden Test in 1982 and their first Test win in 1985, is also the only venue in Asia graced by the great Don Bradman.
Blind cricket is played underarm — a style outlawed in the sighted game since 1981 — using a white plastic ball filled with ball bearings that rattle along the turf. Players rely on sound and not sight, reading the game by ear and instinct.
Teams comprise fully blind and partially blind cricketers, classified as B1, B2 and B3. Each side must field at least four completely blind players, while the others are blindfolded to ensure fairness. B1 players are aided by runners to avert collisions and injuries.
The World Blind Cricket Council, headquartered in London since 1996, governs the sport globally. The men’s game features both ODIs and T20s, but this year marked a watershed moment: the debut of the women’s T20 format.
by Rex Clementine
An animal rights group is urging Crystal Palace to retire their live bald eagle mascot with immediate effect, saying a “bright stadium filled with boisterous fans is no place for animals”.
In a letter to Palace CEO Sharon Lacey, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) asked the Premier League club to stop using the eagle, named Phoenix, in pre-match displays at Selhurst Park and to never use live animal mascots again.
The London team, known as the Eagles since 1973, introduced a live eagle to matchdays in 2010. Kayla, who died in 2020, performed the role for 10 years and her replacement Phoenix made her debut against West Ham in August 2024.
Peta says birds can become “frightened, disoriented and panicked” in stadium environments, putting themselves and fans at risk.
Using them for displays and entertainment also denies the animals, who “would naturally avoid humans”, the opportunity to engage with their natural instincts, leading to “frustration and stress”, the group said.
The organisation has “detailed records” of incidents involving live mascots, including birds, being injured or killed in collisions with walls, windows and match balls, as well as a falcon embedding its talons in a spectator’s scalp after landing on his head.
In 2017, a Charlton Athletic fan was found guilty of trying to punch Kayla the eagle at a League Cup fixture two years earlier.
“Many professional sports teams use only willing humans as mascots and the club already has Pete the Eagle to excite the crowd,” said Dr Carys Bennett, Peta’s senior corporate projects manager.
“Bald eagles are widely recognised as symbols of freedom. They deserve better than to be used as an entertainment prop to amuse the Eagles’ fans.
[BBC]
Without Mark Chapman and Rachin Ravindra, the hosts have a top-three spot for Devon Conway. They have as many as six seamers in the squad to pick from, with Glenn Phillips and Michael Bracewell offering part-time spin in a fairly stacked bowling attack.
[Cricbuzz]
Latest News
Bangladesh and Nepal to host Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup from January 21 to February 6
Four venues in Bangladesh and Nepal will host the 2027 Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup, which is set to run from January 21 to February 6. Chattogram, Sylhet, Kirtipur and Mulpani are the four venues, with Chattogram set to host the two semi-finals on February 4 as well as the final on February 6.
The 16-team event will feature four groups of four teams each, with the group stage set to be followed by a two-group Super Six stage, and then the semi-finals and final.
This is the third edition of the tournament, with India having won the first two back-to-back in 2023 and 2025. The defending champions have been drawn in group A alongside Ireland, West Indies and Nepal. Group B has 2025 runners-up South Africa as well as New Zealand, Pakistan and Samoa.
Australia, Bangladesh, Nigeria and UAE make up Group C, while England, Sri Lanka, USA and Scotland have been drawn in Group D.
The tournament will kick off with four matches on January 21, with Sylhet hosting Bangladesh vs UAE and Australia vs Nigeria, and Mulpani hosting Sri Lanka vs Scotland and England vs USA. The other two venues and other eight teams will be involved on January 22: New Zealand vs Samoa and South Africa vs Pakistan in Chattogram, and Nepal vs Ireland and India vs West Indies in Kirtipur.
All 41 games of the tournament will be played during the day. Morning matches will begin at 9.30am local time, and afternoon games at 1.30pm local time.
“The ICC U19 World Cup is the stage that showcases the future of our sport and serves as the ultimate platform for young players to make the leap towards elite careers representing their countries,” ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta said. “These future stars representing 16 teams will garner the world’s attention and become relatable role models for many young girls playing the sport, serving inspiration for their continued cricket journeys.
“The choice of our hosts – Bangladesh and Nepal – is also reflective of the ICC’s belief and investment in the future of the cricket ecosystem. With deep passion for cricket and nearly 40% of the two countries’ populations below the age of 20, they serve as the ideal hosts for one of the world’s biggest youth sporting events.”
(Cricinfo)
Crystal Palace urged to retire bald eagle mascot
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Bangladesh and Nepal to host Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup from January 21 to February 6
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