Dasara cricket for blinds from Sept 22

Addressing a media conference at Crystal Paark Inn in the city on Saturday, Nagesh said the matches would be held at Sports Pavilion, Mysore Sandalwood factory grounds and Railway Grounds. Cine actor Ragini Dwivedi is the brand ambassador for the event. “I agreed to endorse the event as I was really fascinated to learn how visually impaired play cricket. I would definitely try to be at the tourney for all the matches,” she said.

The participating teams are from north, east, west and south zones. The tournament would be a round robin format comprising 40 overs each with the top two teams playing in the finals on September 25.

CABI secretary Mahantesh said the tournament is the first step in the selection process of Indian blind cricket team scheduled to tour Pakistan from November 14 to 27.

Also it would act as a platform to spot talent for the Twenty20 World Cup cricket for the blind that would be held in the country in December 2012.

He said plans are being made so that Mysore can host a couple matches in the tournament featuring India against Pakistan and England.

The tourney would be inaugurated by district in-charge minister S A Ramdas at Mysore Sandal Wood Pitch at 9.30 am. Deputy commissioner P S Vastrad, police commissioner Sunil Agarwal, Crystal Paark Inn managing director Chandrashekar, mayor Pushpalatha Chikkanna and DCP (law and order) Basavaraj Malagathi would also participate in the inauguration.