Pakistan emerged victorious against India with an 18-run lead in the opening match of the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) World Blind Games held in Birmingham. The Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC) announced this triumph, marking a strong beginning to the 2023 IBSA World Games.
The IBSA World Games, a major international event for visually impaired athletes, features over 1,250 participants from 70 countries.
Running from August 14 to August 27, the tournament is being held at the University of Birmingham, encompassing Edgbaston and its surroundings.
The event includes ten-pin bowling, archery, chess, cricket, goalball, judo, powerlifting, showdown, tennis, and various forms of football, both blind and partially sighted.
Pakistan’s batting performance shone brightly on Sunday as they faced India in their opener. Opting to bat after winning the toss, Pakistan’s visually impaired cricket team exhibited remarkable gameplay, achieving a total of 187/8 in 20 overs.
Nisar Ali, the skipper, contributed 46 runs, and Muhammad Salman stood out with a noteworthy 50 runs from 31 deliveries. Additionally, Badar Munir scored 37 off 24 balls.
India’s Performance
On the opposing side, India struggled to chase the target set by Pakistan. Despite their efforts, India managed to score only 169/7 in 20 overs.
The Green Shirts’ solid performance in batting, backed by Nisar Ali and Muhammad Salman’s strong scores, played a pivotal role in establishing a target that India couldn’t comfortably pursue.
The PBCC expressed their elation on social media, labeling the match as a “Thrilling showdown at the IBSA Blind World games.”
They credited Salman, Badar, and Mati for their significant contributions to Pakistan’s victory. Notably, this edition of the IBSA World Games serves as a pinnacle event for visually impaired athletes worldwide and is held once every four years, rivaling even the Paralympic Games in significance.
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