A visit to Nepal leads to first Visually Impaired girls cricket team

Following a holiday to Nepal, Beth Evans, C4C Development Officer (also named Coach of the Year for Surrey 2009) was so inspired by the work and witness of Pawan Ghimire of the Nepal Cricket Association (who had set up and was running cricket tournaments for blind players, including many women) and the Nepal Visually Impaired (VI) cricket players in action, that Beth felt the desire to set about starting the first ever England Visually Impaired girls cricket squad and team. 

The squad, which has had crucial funding support from the Brian Johnston Memorial Trust, trains once a month at the Cricket for Change Cricket Centre in Wallington, Surrey, consists of girls from 13yrs of age up to the oldest lady at over 40yrs of age!  The squad and team began life in August 2010 and now hope that in 2012 they will be able to play their first ever international against Nepal, the nation that gave rise to the idea of their team.

One of the standout players in the squad is Sarah Clare, aged 20, who has come through the C4C Hit The Top programme and has played for Kent VI team and currently plays for the Metro Devils. She was voted as Best Newcomer 2011 for the Metro Devils.

The squad, who are activley encouraged by David Townley, President of the BCEW and World Blind Cricket Council, hope to one day to be able to compete in major international tournaments, such as the the first ever Blind T20 tournament which is set to take place in Banaglore in December 2012.

If you would like to get involved or for further information about the team, then please do contact, Beth Evans at bethevans@cricketforchange.org.uk or on 079804554236