India's blind cricket captain hopes World Cup can clear dad's Rs 4 lakh debt

Captain of the India's blind cricket team Ajay Reddy (third from left) with teammates during the team announcement function in Mumbai yesterday. Pic/SHADAB KHAN

India's blind cricket team skipper Ajay Reddy is not too worried about how he will fare in the forthcoming T20 World Cup (January 26-February12, 2017) but is keen that a good performance at the major event helps his father to clear a huge debt. Reddy's father, a farmer, borrowed R4 lakh for household purposes a few years ago and is yet to repay his lenders.

"My father used to work at a farm and took a loan of R4 lakh from various people. Now, he is old and unemployed. My family fully depends on me. I have to buy my cricket kit too and I am finding it difficult to repay the amount. I hope after winning this World Cup, I will be able to repay it," Reddy told mid-day on the sidelines of the team's announcement yesterday.

Interestingly, India's 17-member squad has only one player from Maharashtra - all-rounder Anish Beg. The 27-year-old cricketer from Nashik, who performed consistently at the State and National level, will be making his international debut.

India's opening batsman, Reddy, has made a fervent plea to the government and the corporate sector to assist blind cricketers financially. "There is not much financial support for us. The government and the corporate sector should support us. If they adopt blind cricketers, it will only help build the bench strength of our team. They (corporates) earn in crores, but do not even spend Rs 5 lakh on us, which is not a good sign," he said.

The 26-year-old has a tough daily schedule. An Assistant Manager with State Bank of Hyderabad, Reddy's life comes with a whole lot of challenges. "I am allowed to be absent during international matches, but I have to work daily in office and practise before or after work. I think my seniors have to allow me to work only for half a day," added Reddy, who had to take leave to attend yesterday's press conference organised by Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI).