2018 Blind Cricket World Cup

2018 40 Over Blind Cricket World Cup
Dates8 January 2018 – 20 January 2018
Administrator(s)World Blind Cricket Council
Cricket format40 Overs
Tournament format(s)Group and Knockout
Host(s) Pakistan
 United Arab Emirates
ChampionsIndia India
Runners-upPakistan Pakistan
Participants6
← 2014

The 2018 Blind Cricket World Cup was the fifth Blind Cricket World Cup tournament, and was held from 8–20 January 2018 in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.[1][2] In the final, defending champions India defeated Pakistan by 2 wickets to secure their 2nd Blind Cricket World Cup title under the captaincy of Ajay Kumar Reddy.[3][4][5][6] Six teams, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Australia and Nepal played in the tournament,[7][8][9][10] with Nepal making their first ever appearance.[11][12]

India played all of their group stage matches of the tournament at neutral venues in the United Arab Emirates, after the foreign ministry of India blocked them from travelling to Pakistan.[13] It was later revealed that the Cricket Association for the Blind in India and Pakistan Blind Cricket Council had agreed to shift the Indian matches to the UAE.[14][15] Thus, only Nepal and Bangladesh were willing to play matches in Pakistan.[16]

Initially, Pakistan was selected as the main host nation to host the tournament, with the UAE later agreeing to host some of the matches. It was the first time that Pakistan had been selected to host the Blind Cricket World Cup since 2006, and marked the first instance where UAE also had hosted few matches as a part of the World Cup.[17]

Sharjah Cricket Stadium hosted the final between India and Pakistan on 20 January;[18][19] prior to the World Cup, Pakistan had originally been selected to host the final.[20] India and Pakistan were the only teams to play against each other in the finals of the Blind Cricket World Cup on three consecutive occasions.

In the final, Pakistan batted first and managed to score 308/8 after being put into bat by India. India chased down the target of 309 with 16 balls to spare to clinch the title. India thus maintained their unbeaten record in the tournament.[21][22]

  1. ^ Administrator. "Pakistan to host T20 Blind World Cup in 2018. Top New. TOP NEWS". www.crictoday.com. Archived from the original on 2018-01-11. Retrieved 2018-01-11.
  2. ^ "Pakistan off to a winning start in Blind Cricket World Cup". www.geo.tv. Retrieved 2018-01-11.
  3. ^ "India beat Pakistan to win fifth Blind Cricket World Cup - Cricket - Dunya News". Dunya News. Retrieved 2018-01-20.
  4. ^ "India beats Pakistan to win Blind Cricket World Cup". Sportstarlive. Retrieved 2018-01-20.
  5. ^ "India beat Pakistan by 2 wickets to win Blind Cricket World Cup". India Today. 2018-01-20. Retrieved 2018-01-20.
  6. ^ "India wins Blind Cricket World Cup 2018". www.samaa.tv. Retrieved 2018-01-20.
  7. ^ "Blind Cricket World Cup 2018 Live Scores, Schedule, Squads, Points, TV Guide - CricketZine". www.cricketzine.com. Retrieved 2018-01-11.
  8. ^ "Sri Lanka Team for Blind Cricket World Cup 2018". ThePapare.com. 2018-01-05. Retrieved 2018-01-11.
  9. ^ "Sunday Times - Cricket: Sri Lanka for the Blind Cricket leaves for World Cup 2018". www.sundaytimes.lk. Retrieved 2018-01-11.
  10. ^ "Indian Cricket Squad Announced for World Cup for Blind". News18. 2017-12-04. Retrieved 2018-01-11.
  11. ^ "Fund crunch forces Nepal team into an arduous journey to Blind Cricket World Cup". hindustantimes.com. 2018-01-03. Retrieved 2018-01-13.
  12. ^ "Blind Cricket World Cup 2018. Nepal Blind Cricket. World Blind Cricket". Nepali Sansar. 2018-01-05. Retrieved 2018-01-13.
  13. ^ "Indian team set to travel to Pakistan for 2018 Blind World Cup". 2017-04-11. Retrieved 2018-01-11.
  14. ^ "In pictures: 2018 Blind Cricket World Cup kicks off in Lahore - Cricket - Dunya News". Dunya News. Retrieved 2018-01-11.
  15. ^ "Blind Cricket World Cup 2018: Pakistan changes schedule after India's 'denial'". Daily Pakistan Global. Retrieved 2018-01-11.
  16. ^ "India and Pakistan to meet in Blind Cricket World Cup Final as the tournament to be concluded with a Sunday Dhamaal". 2018-01-17. Retrieved 2018-01-18.
  17. ^ "Blind Cricket World Cup 2018 Live Streaming". Awami Web. 2018-01-10. Archived from the original on 2018-01-13. Retrieved 2018-01-13.
  18. ^ "Sharjah to host 2018 Blind Cricket World Cup final". Retrieved 2018-01-16 – via PressReader.
  19. ^ "Blind Cricket World Cup final shifted from Lahore to Sharjah". The Nation. Retrieved 2018-01-16.
  20. ^ "Sharjah to host Blind World Cup cricket final". Gulf News. Retrieved 2018-01-16.
  21. ^ "India beat Pakistan to win Blind Cricket World Cup". www.geo.tv. Retrieved 2018-01-20.
  22. ^ "Blind Cricket World Cup: India Beat Pakistan by 2 Wickets to Lift Title". News18. 2018-01-20. Retrieved 2018-01-20.