The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) T20 Cricket Tournament for the people with physical disability kicks off at Jagannath Hall playground of the Dhaka University on Sunday with the slogan “We can do it too”.
State Minister for Youth and Sports Biren Shikder is expected to inaugurate the five-day meet where a total of six teams — three from Dhaka and three from other districts of the country – will take part split in two groups.
The final of the tournament will be held on December 21.
Duronto Lalmonirhat Physical Challenge Cricket Team will take on ARDRID Physically Challenged Cricket Team (Dhaka) in the tournament opener which will begin at 11am.
Group A comprises of Bangladesh Cricket Association for the Physically Challenged (Dhaka), ARDRID Physically Challenged Cricket Team (Dhaka) and Duronto Lalmonirhat Physical Challenge Cricket Team (Lalmonirhat).
CRP Physically Challenged Cricket Team (Savar, Dhaka), Dream for Disability Foundation Physical Challenge Cricket Team (Brahmanbaria) and Gazipur Glorious Disable Cricket Club (Gazipur) have filled the spots of Group B.
The tournament, an initiative of the ICRC, aimed to highlight skills and efforts of the physically challenged cricketers to promote social inclusion of disable people through sports, reintegrate them into the mainstream of the society gradually and reduce the stigma and discrimination associated with disabilities.
People with clear and visible physical challenges or disabilities and having a sound knowledge of the game are participating in the tournament to showcase their talents.
However, players with intellectual disability, visual and hearing impairments, minor amputation, fracture, wheelchair user, balance and coordination problems were discouraged to attend due to high risk of re-injuries.
