MUMBAI: Rajasthan Royals on Wednesday extended their groundbreaking partnership with the Disabled Cricket Council of India (DCCI) as the two organisations announced they will once again come together to host the third National Disabled T20 Cricket Championship from September 28 to October 8, 2023 in Udaipur, Rajasthan, in association with non-profit charity organisation Narayan Seva Sansthan.
The IPL franchises and the apex body for disability cricket had initially collaborated on the third National Wheelchair Cricket Championship, which was held in the same city from November 27 last year to December 3, 2022.
Dubbed the ‘3rd National Disabled T20 Cricket Championship 2023 in Association with Rajasthan Royals’, the tournament is set to create history as it will be recorded in the Guinness World Records as the largest cricket tournament for disabled cricketers with the participation of over 400 talented Divyang cricketers representing 24 state disabled cricket teams from across India.
The tournament aims to empower Divyang cricketers, give them an opportunity to compete and showcase their talent against top players from across the country and also provide them with financial support to further their professional ambitions.
“The tournament will showcase the cricketing talent, fierce competition and determination of Divyang cricketers who have overcome numerous obstacles to pursue their passion for the game. It will also serve as a platform to raise awareness about the importance of inclusivity in sports and society at large,” a statement by the organisers said.
The 24 state teams will be split into four groups of six teams each, with the top team from each group advancing to the semi-finals and the resulting winners competing in the final.
A total of 63 matches will be held across 11 days at four venues in the picturesque city of Udaipur – Field Club Cricket Ground, MBA Cricket Ground, BN University Cricket Ground and NSS Cricket Ground. Entry is free for all spectators.
With the Royals once again extending their support to the disability community, Rajasthan Royals CEO Jake Rush McCrum reiterated the franchise’s commitment to using cricket as a platform for social change and community development. He said, “The Royals have always supported efforts to make cricket more inclusive as reflected in the ongoing Rajasthan Royals Cricket Cup for Inter-School Girls in Rajasthan. Our continued support of the Disability Cricket Council of India is another step in the same direction. The impact our contribution to last year’s Wheelchair Cricket Championship had on the players was overwhelming and we look forward to continuing to make a positive impact on the lives of the disability community through tournaments such as this one.”
Ravikant Chauhan, Member of the BCCI Committee for Disabled Cricket and Secretary General of the Indian Council for Disabled Cricket, said: “We are delighted that the third National Disabled T20 Cricket Championship, to be held from September 28 to October 8, will be organised by well-known IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals. We are grateful for the continued support and assistance extended to disabled cricket and cricketers through our organisation.”
Narayan Seva Sansthan will host all participating cricketers, experts and officials at the Seva Mahathirth Smart Village.