Kashmir’s blind cricketer makes International T20 debut for India
Irfan was selected for a three-match bilateral series against England
Srinagar, Oct 04: For first time, a blind cricketer from Kashmir has made his International debut for Indian blind cricket team. The visually impaired cricketer made his debut in International blind cricket against England on 2nd September at Bengaluru.
Irfan Ahmad Mir, 23, a resident of Dussu village in Pampore was selected for Blind International T20 cricket squad of Indian blind cricket team for a three-match bilateral series against England blind cricket team.
Mir was not blind by birth but after ten days of his birth, he is said to have lost his vision naturally. “Irfan was consulted by many eye-specialists in the valley as well as outside state, but he couldn’t regain his vision,” says Bilal Ahmad, elder brother of the blind cricketer.
“Mir who is youngest among his three siblings completed his middle school studies at a local school in his native village and later completed his high-school and secondary studies from CBSE boarding school in Delhi,” he adds.
Mir, who is currently in Bengaluru, talked to Kashmir Images on phone saying that he had a passion for cricket right from his childhood and finally his dream has come true as he has made a debut at International level. “In 2015, I went to Deharadun for undergoing a three months course in “Adjustment for the Blindness Training” at National Institute for the Visually Handicapped (NIVH). During trials at Dehradun, I was picked up for the Uttar Pradesh team by its captain Zeeshan Haider and then I represented U.P national team from 2015-2016. In 2017, I and Ajay Thakur of Jammu played a role in organizing J&K blind cricket team and we both were selected in North zone team,” says Mir. “I participated in trials at Pune in November-December 2017 for International T20 world cup Cricket team squad.”
“Presently, I am enrolled in a two-year practitioner course in Japanese Medical Manual Therapy (JMMT) at Dehradun and on 26th September I received a call from Cricket Association for the blind in India (CABI) informing me that I have been selected for a three match T20 bilateral series against England,” he says. After hearing the news about my selection, the first person I informed was my father, he was very happy for me. My entire family has always encouraged me through all thick and thin,” says Mir.
India had clinched the T-20 series 2-0 with a match to spare when this report was filed. Irfan says that the ongoing series has been sealed by his team. “It is always a privilege to be on the side of a winning squad.”
