CHENNAI: That’s right. India beat Pakistan a whole 24 hours before the Asia Cup match in Dhaka began. But there were no fireworks, no exuberant masses, no partying nor was there a spectacle that the entire world watched. In fact, it all unfolded at YMCA Nandanam. Confused? We’re talking about the Visually Challenged bilateral series that wound up this weekend between the Indian and Pakistani national teams. But their joy at winning soon gave way to abject tension, as they too were prepping to follow the ‘big’ match on Sunday.Even as Chennai and the rest of the world watched Team India and Pakistan battle it out, these 22 men were glued to the television, listening with all their heart to the commentary. As the Pakistan openers clobbered the Indian attack to post an opening partnership of 200 runs, cricket lovers looked dejected — but not these blind gents, “In our last match against Pakistan, they got to 98 without losing wickets, but we managed to bowl them out for 232. Team India will do the same,” said Indian Blind Cricket skipper Shekar Naik. As Pakistan lost a wicket while he was speaking to City Express, he stood corrected. “See? Even they (India) are like us. They play really well on Indian pitches.” It was the memory of how they were whitewashed when they toured Pakistan last year that drew the remark of Indian pitches. Considering the Blind World Cup is to be held in Bengaluru in December, he is a content man.The Pakistan Blind team who stopped at Mumbai, en route home, were all smiles at the way their national team was batting, “The Blind team had some fitness issues, but the national team is clearly doing well. India has been a little below standard without Zaheer and Nehra, and even lost to Bangladesh. Hopefully we will win,” said Syed Sultan Shah, Chairman of the Pakistan Blind Cricket Council and Senior VP of the World Blind Cricket Council.While a bilateral series between the international teams has been a long time coming, the blind teams have done their bit towards building sporting camaraderie “across borders” over social and political issues. “There is just one thing that we need — for the game to take place. Inshallah everything else will fall into place,” he notes with hope.
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