Bengaluru [India], November 9: The Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI), in association with Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled, has announced the 7th edition of the IndusInd Bank Nagesh Trophy, Men’s National T20 Cricket Tournament for the Blind 2024-25
The IndusInd Bank Nagesh Trophy will be held from November 10, 2024 to February 20, 2025. The league stage will be played until December 27, 2024, and CABI will hold the Super 8 stage matches in February 2025. The league matches of the 7th edition of the IndusInd Bank Nagesh Trophy will be played across six venues: Bengaluru (Karnataka), Kota (Rajasthan), Bhubaneshwar (Odisha), Hyderabad (Telangana), Ludhiana (Punjab), and Kharagpur (West Bengal). A total of 28 teams, including 24 state and 3 union territory teams, as well as an Indian Railways team represented by visually impaired employees of the railways will compete in this T20 format tournament. The teams are divided into six groups based on last year’s rankings. The first four groups have five teams each, while the last two groups have four teams each
Dr Mahantesh G Kivadasannavar, Chairman of the Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) said, “As we announce the 7th edition of the IndusInd Bank Nagesh Trophy, we are proud to have built a pedigree of great cricketers, having selected the best talent to represent the country. The unwavering support we have received from IndusInd Bank over the years in promoting cricket for the blind have been heartening and we appreciate their initiative. CABI hopes to keep discovering new talent and provide them with the best opportunities and recognition that they deserve”
Mr. Sanjeev Anand, Head – Corporate, Commercial & Rural Banking and also In-charge of IndusInd for Sports, IndusInd Bank, said, “We are immensely proud to support the 7th edition of the IndusInd Bank Nagesh Trophy, a tournament that not only showcases the incredible talent of visually impaired cricketers but also embodies our commitment to inclusivity and empowerment through sports. This event is a testament to the spirit of determination and resilience within the blind cricket community. As we continue to champion such initiatives, we look forward to witnessing new talent emerge and inspiring stories unfold on the field.”
Mr Yogesh Taneja, Chairman of IndusInd Bank Nagesh Trophy, said “New cities and many new players are joining the 7th edition of the IndusInd Bank Nagesh Trophy. Every blind cricketer looks forward to the Tournament for the chance to be noticed, selected, and represent the country. We aim to provide the players with the best possible facilities to help them showcase their cricketing skills to the world.”
Karnataka had emerged as the winner of the previous 6th edition of the IndusInd Bank Nagesh Trophy that was held in Nagpur, Maharashtra. The groups for the 7th edition are as follows:
- Group A: Karnataka, Delhi, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Himachal Pradesh
- Group B: Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Bihar, and Pondicherry
- Group C: Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chandigarh, and Tripura
- Group D: Gujarat, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, and Jammu & Kashmir
- Group E: Goa, Manipur, Punjab, and West Bengal
- Group F: Chhattisgarh, Railways, Assam, and Jharkhand
The IndusInd Bank Nagesh Trophy was launched in memory of the late Shri SP Nagesh, Founder President of the Cricket Association for the Blind in India and Founder Trustee of Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled. This tournament has united the entire blind cricket community on a single platform, marking a significant milestone in the history of blind cricket.