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The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 is currently taking place in India and Sri Lanka, with viewership surpassing all prior records for women’s cricket. Next month, the countries will again be the site of another tournament featuring top teams in women’s cricket when they co–host the first-ever Women’s T20 World Cup Cricket for the Blind.
Kicking off in New Delhi on November 11 and closing out in Colombo, Sri Lanka on November 23, the historic event will include teams from Australia, England, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the United States. Across 21 league matches, two semi-finals and the final, tournament organizers envision a sporting championship that will also promote inclusivity and redefine what’s possible for women with disabilities.
India is home to 7.8 million people with visual impairments, representing 20% of the world’s 39 million blind population. The country’s award-winning Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled, which “creates pathways for visually-impaired individuals to experience the transformative power of sports,” shared the following about the World Cup: “This isn’t just a tournament — it’s a powerful movement for inclusion, resilience and equality. For the first time, blind women cricketers from around the world will take the global stage, proving that disability does not limit potential. These athletes aren’t just playing cricket — they’re breaking barriers, challenging stereotypes and inspiring millions.”
Blind cricket traces its beginnings to two factory workers in Melbourne, Australia in 1922. The current adaptive version features teams of 11 with a mandated minimum of four B1 players and three B2 players, and a maximum of four B3 players:
- B1: Completely blind or have light perception only
- B2: Can recognize the shape of a hand up to 2 meters
- B3: Visual acuity above 2/60 up to 6/60 or a visual field of up to 20 degrees
Modifications include a larger, plastic ball with internal ball bearings that rattle when the ball is in motion and underarm bowling that must bounce twice before the batsman. Wickets are bigger and made of fluorescent-colored metal tubes that make them easier for players to see or touch. The bowler must shout “play” as they release the ball, and the wicketkeeper can also verbally guide the bowler.
The first T20 Blind Cricket World Cup took place in Bangalore, India in 2012. Due to systemic issues including gender disparities in the sport and a lack of funding, community programs, infrastructure and professional opportunities for women, it’s taken 13 years to have World Cup for women.
“This historic event marks a significant step in empowering women’s blind cricket and strengthening our role on the global stage. It reflects our commitment to inclusivity and to creating opportunities for visually impaired athletes to showcase their talent,” said Sudesh Tharanga, President of the Sri Lanka Cricket Association of the Visually Handicapped, during a recent press conference. “We believe this World Cup will serve as a powerful symbol of hope and a milestone in building a more inclusive sporting world.”
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