Cash award for blind T20 World Cup boys from Karnataka

Bangalore:  Three players from Karnataka, who were part of the Indian team that won the T20 World Cup for the blind by thrashing Pakistan Thursday, will receive Rs.300,000 cash award from the state government.

"The state government will also consider allotting land to build a playground for the blind cricketers, as requested by the T20 World Cup organiser - Samarthanam Trust for the disabled," Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar said after felicitating the entire winning team at his official residence here Friday.

The three players from Karnataka are Shekar Naik from Shimoga, Prakash Jayaramaiah from Chennapatna and S.Ravi from Davangere.

Appreciating Shettar's gesture, World Blind Cricket Council vice-president G.K. Mahantesh said the state government had been very generous in granting funds to the trust for organising the T20 World Cup in Bangalore.

Waving tri-colour and placards, hundreds of supporters accompanied the winning team to the chief minister's residence and cheered them lustily as the convoy, led by Indian team captain Shekar Naik, commuted in an open jeep from the hotel.

"The visually challenged cricketers have played better than their superstar counterparts (regulars) who are struggling to take on England in the ongoing Test series," one of their fans remarked on the occasion.