The Eastern Zonal Tournament for Differently Abled Cricket concluded on Friday, December 26, at the BKC College Ground in Kolkata, with Odisha emerging as champions after edging out Bihar by six runs in a thrilling final. The two-day tournament featured four teams — Odisha, Bihar, Bengal and Jharkhand.
Organised by the West Bengal Cricket Association for Differently Abled (WBCADA) under the affiliation of the Differently Abled Cricket Council of India (DCCI), the competition was played in the T12 format (twelve overs per side) for Physical Disability (PD) category athletes. Following a single-leg round-robin stage, the top two teams advanced to the grand finale.
Reflecting on the significance of the tournament, DCCI secretary general, Ravi Chauhan said: “The East Zone Tournament held in Kolkata, with participation from four teams, is a matter of great pride for us. It marks an important step towards promoting differently-abled cricket in the East Zone.”
He further added: “I sincerely thank all the supporters who have stood by us and continue to support disability cricket. We look forward to the same encouragement in the future as we aim to take the sport to even greater heights.”
The tournament produced several memorable moments, including an over featuring six sixes and another with five maximums. Outstanding bowling and sharp fielding performances were also on display, reinforcing the fact that differently abled cricket deserves equal recognition and respect.
WBCADA coach and secretary Utpal Majumder highlighted the sport’s rapid growth, saying: “Since my playing days two decades ago, differently abled cricket has grown manifold. With DCCI now under the jurisdiction of the BCCI, there has been a very positive shift in the sport.”
WBCADA president Neeraj Kishore Singh emphasised the tournament’s wider reach and impact. He said: “This tournament provided great exposure for the players. Not only from Kolkata, players have come from places like Bolpur, Shantiniketan and Siliguri. Even the other teams had players from remote regions.”
He also underlined the social impact of the sport, adding: “Most of the players come from humble backgrounds and are not financially strong. Through cricket, they are now getting recognised, finding employment and becoming financially independent.”
The players echoed similar sentiments. Veteran Bihar captain Asit Kumar Singh reflected on how perceptions have evolved over the years. He said: “When I started back in 2000, people used to look down upon persons with disabilities.”
Highlighting the progress made since then, he added: “Today, our boys have won a match at the iconic Lord’s, and our Women’s Blind Team have won the World Cup. The DCCI has done a wonderful job in promoting differently abled cricket, and tournaments like this will only encourage greater participation.”
Odisha captain Akshay Kumar Sahoo also praised the initiative, stating: “This was a great platform, especially for youngsters. There should be more such tournaments across the country.”
Concluding the event, WBCADA mentor Amit Sengupta reiterated the core philosophy behind organising such competitions. “The main motive is to prove that differently abled people are not different, and that cricket is for everyone — not just an elite few,” he said.
He acknowledged the challenges involved, adding: “Convincing sponsors to back such a movement is never easy, but we are grateful to have some wonderful partners who supported us in this initiative.”
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