Dubai (UAE): With the help of captain Badar Munir’s stormy century, Pakistan men’s blind cricket team defeated India by five wickets in the first T20 of the Friendship Cricket Series for the Blind in Dubai on Thursday. India scored 212/6 in 20 overs thanks to the courageous innings of D. Venkateswara Rao (49) and captain T. Durga Rao (61). However, Pakistan achieved the target with four balls remaining. With this victory, Pakistan has taken a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. The friendly cricket series for the blind was to be played with Pakistan and Sri Lanka as a part of the tri-series. However, Sri Lanka faced last-minute difficulties in participating in the series. Also Read – Former bureaucrat’s U-turn, back to face election rigging charges “The Sri Lankan was unable to come to UAE due to visa issues and delay in procedures in Sri Lanka. Therefore, Sri Lanka will not be able to play in the tri-series and India will play Pakistan in three T20 matches,” the Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) said in a statement. India started well by scoring 36 runs in the first 3 overs. Despite losing Sunil Ramesh, the Men in Blue continued to hit at a good pace and crossed the 130-run mark in the 12th over. Also Read – Mauritius Foreign Minister lauds PM Modi, Jugnauth’s leadership Pakistan made a comeback and rattled India’s middle order as the team lost wickets in quick succession. In the end India scored 212/6 in the stipulated 20 overs. Chasing 213, Pakistan suffered early setbacks, but Badar Munir led his team to victory by scoring 129 runs in just 63 balls. Badar Munir was named player of the match for his overall performance. Three players of the Indian team made their debut on Thursday and Shailendra Yadav, general secretary of the Cricket Association for the Blind in India, presented them with caps and wished them all the best. Debraj (B1), Sanjay (B1) and Magunta Sai (B3) played their first matches for India and were welcomed by their teammates in a small ceremony held before the match. India and Pakistan will face each other in the second T20 match at the ICC Cricket Academy Dubai on Friday.
