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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s blind cricket team captain Abdul Razzaq has announced plans to retire after this year's World Cup to be played in December at Bangalore, India.
Razzaq, who will be leading the team to play India in March in Chennai from March 10, told APP on Tuesday that he would run an academy of his own for blind cricketers at Lahore after his retirement.
“I want to give the upcoming talented youngsters a chance to take my place after my retirement,” he said.
Pakistan will leave for India in the second week of March where they will play three one day matches and as many T20s.
“India can give us tough competition in the World Cup, so this series is very important for us,” Razzaq said.
A training camp for the bilateral series will be held from February 25 to March 5 in Lahore.
It is pertinent to mention that the Indian blind team toured Pakistan in November, when they were beaten by the home side in both the one day and Twenty 20 series.
Talking about the future of Pakistan blind cricket he said, “We have been unbeaten since 2006 so we are ruling the world of blind cricket.”
Admiring the efforts of Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC), he said they are doing a very good job with limited resources at their disposal.
“They organise five to six international events every year and give us maximum club matches.”
Razzaq said that most of the time they (blind cricketers) don't get permission to organise events because the way they play, the regular pitches are destroyed.
“There is need to set up a separate ground for us as in every city we cannot use the normal grounds prepared for regular cricket,” he said.
Razzaq also called for permanent jobs for blinds cricketers here in Pakistan.
“I request the departments to provide jobs to the blind as per their skill and education so that they can lead an independent life like other ordinary players,” he concluded.
