Disabled but talented cricketers who are obsessed with cricket and love to play, when the platform of disabled cricket became available, they gradually became part of disabled cricket, and when they were in the right direction. With guidance, modern cricket training and regular coaching, their skills were further improved. Karachi became a place of disabled cricket and the general public became familiar with this style of cricket. Karachi’s media circles also took disabled cricket hand in hand. They were well received and encouraged at every level. Their news was published prominently, reports were aired on the channels and programs were also aired, and interviews of players and officials were also aired. As soon as I saw it, disabled cricket started to be talked about everywhere. In those days, it seemed to me that disabled cricket was not new, but like normal cricket, it had existed in Karachi for a long time.
I remember very well that during the Asia Cup cricket tournament held in Karachi in 2008, Shoaib Akhtar spent time with disabled cricketers. He bowled with them in the nets and mixed with them. ۔ Awareness was also given by him about swinging the ball and its grip. The joy of the disabled cricketers was to be seen on this day and their immense happiness could be gauged from their faces. Standing in the sun for hours, Shoaib Akhtar is present among them. They could not believe that the world’s fastest bowler was bowling him on the net. Disabled cricketers also faced the world’s fastest bowlers without any fear. They faced bowling and also received praise for his good strokes. Shoaib Akhtar himself had admitted in a conversation with the media that day that he was amazed at the abilities of disabled cricketers.
It is also important to mention here that Saleem Karim, the founder of Disabled Cricket, who started this cricket, then went to great lengths to promote it, find players and make it popular across the country. He also endured criticism from various sections of the society after the introduction of this style of cricket but did not give up and remained on his. I am also an eyewitness of the difficulties of the early period. In the beginning, it used to happen that the family members of those who were interested in playing disabled cricket were afraid to take their beloved son or brother on the field, lest they get hurt or get a serious injury. Here too saleem karim used to satisfy the cricketer’s family. This would not only allay the fears of his family but also encourage the cricketer himself to come into disabled cricket and consider himself part of the society and feel safe like his soul. This was his great achievement in the early days and that is why in just a short span of two years, the number of disabled cricketers across the country has increased so much that the first National Disabled League has not been a problem. (to be continued)
The Pakistan Disabled Cricket Association (PDCA) is responsible for the promotion and expansion of the game through its associate and affiliate members throughout the country for all the Physically Disabled Cricketers of the country and PDCA is also recognized by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) who is the governing body of cricket in Pakistan.