'I was once a sighted cricketer'

The City has been playing host to the T20 Blind Cricket World Cup, where nine countries from across the world are participating in the prestigious tournament to take home the Cup.

For our nation’s neighbour, Bangladesh, this is the first entry into the international arena. The team captain Mohammad Hafizur Rahman ‘Bullet’ feels that his experience with the game has been more than he could ask for.

“Being a captain, I had a lot of dreams for the team. I’m very optimistic that we’ll do what we can to perform to the best of our ability,” says Hafizur, who is an all-rounder B2 category player.

He shares his inspiring story, reflecting on the simpler days. “I was once a sighted cricketer. After playing for a lot of years, I lost my vision in 2004. In 2007, the Bangladesh Blind Cricket Council (BBCC) asked me to start my career as a blind cricketer. For the past few years, I’ve been trying to establish myself as a blind cricketer as well as motivate other young aspiring blind cricketers in the country.”

As is necessary, he gives a lot of credit to his coach, who has helped the Bangladesh team become what it is today. Wanting to know the fitness regime from the horse’s mouth, the coach Sanowar Ahmed informs Metrolife, “Despite their disabilities, the team undergoes vigorous training throughout the year. All my boys are fit and well prepared for this tournament. None of them have any physical problems and they go to the gym and come for coaching everyday.”

Hafizur, who was one of the first few blind cricketers in his country adds, “Given the level that blind cricket has reached today, I’m optimistic that the visually challenged will come into the mainstream and pursue viable economic careers as cricketers and lead a decent life with dignity and courage.”

When he’s not on the cricket pitch, one can find him busily working with an NGO he is a part of, meeting with the BBCC or conducting training camps along with the team coach.
Ask him his message for young, aspiring blind cricketers and he smiles and says, “We have a disability and we’re not equivalent to a sighted person. But we’re trying our best to overcome the disability with determination and concentration. I feel that blind cricket will open the door for visually-challenged people from all over the world to bring us together and help build a culture around the sport.”