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India’s Blind Women’s Cricket Team created history by winning the T20 World Cup without losing a single match, yet their struggles off the field paint a heartbreaking picture. Earning just ₹3,000 per match and lacking BCCI recognition, these world champions rely solely on private sponsors for survival.
World Champion Blind Cricketers Paid Less Than Daily Wages
New Delhi: The Indian women's blind cricket team made history. The Indian team made the entire nation proud by lifting the trophy at the inaugural Women's T20 World Cup in Colombo. But the painful truth behind this victory is now coming to light. In this country of millions of cricket fans, everyone is shocked to hear the match fees of the world champion players. The players who returned after making India world champions receive only 3,000 rupees per match.
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The biggest concern is that the Indian blind cricket team has not yet received official recognition from the BCCI. This means they receive neither a central contract nor any financial support from the BCCI.
Their match fees, tournament expenses, travel, training camps, and kits everything is funded by the Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) and a few private sponsors.
Surprisingly, countries like Pakistan, England, Australia, and Bangladesh have recognized their blind cricketers. Pakistan even offers its players central contracts.
While ordinary cricketers in India earn ₹1.5 million for a Test match, ₹6 million for an ODI, and ₹3 million for a T20 match, blind cricketers' fees are thousands of times less.
Match Fee: ₹3,000 per match
This is despite winning the World Cup without losing a single match.
For the first time in history, the players who won the Women's Blind T20 World Cup received only ₹100,000 as prize money and that too from a private company, the Chintels Group.
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India's blind women's team played seven matches in the World Cup and won all of them. They defeated strong teams like Australia and Pakistan to win the trophy.
Support was minimal, but passion was unmatched. One player said, "We don't play for money, we play for India. But we deserve respect." These words show that these players are pushing their limits.
This isn't just about money, it's about respect.
When a team wins the World Cup for the country, is it right to limit their victory to applause?
These players have shown the world that talent is beyond the reach of the public.
Now it's India's turn to understand their struggle and give them the recognition they truly deserve.
