Being on the home turf is equally exciting and challenging. The larger aim, for the physically challenged team, is to bring home the South Zone Cricket Tournament title that has been evading them for long. Kerala Varma College in Thrissur would play host to the first-of-its-kind tourney, where Kerala cricketers would fight it out with teams from Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karnataka, Andra Pradesh and Telangana from Friday to Sunday.
“This is the first time the tournament is conducted in Kerala. All 16, who have been chosen from selection trials, have some kind of orthopaedic disability. There is representation from many districts in the state. Currently, they are undergoing rigorous practice in Thrissur prior to the tournament,” says Kishor A.M., president of Physically Challenged All Sports Association Kerala, the organiser.
More than 34 have come forward to take part in the selection trial and 16 landed in the final team. Four of them — Vineesh M.R., Raphel John M.J., Sreejith V.S., and Sanoj M.S. — have played for the team in the previous years. The camp is progressing at Kerala Varma College Ground in Thrissur under the guidance of a professional coach.
“The rules are same as in the usual T20 format with five power plays. Batsmen would have substitute runners, who are among the 16. The team captain would be chosen a day before the tourney,” says Kishor.
The Association still looks forward to the support from the government to offer them better facilities and training in the coming years.
“We have submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister and the Ministers of Sports and Social Justice, Sports Secretary and the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA). In 2014, the KCA has offered some assistance towards the conduct of the event. Sports of the physically handicapped hadn’t yet received due recognition,” adds Kishor.
The team also includes Alameen, Shanu Hassan, Basha B., Abdul Muneer K., Maneesh M., Afsal C.K., Renjith Kumar K.R., Sarath V., Anish P. Rajan, Sooraj S., Vishnu R. And Mohammed Shafi.
