Centenary cricket match – Ceylon School for the Deaf and Blind
View(s):
A Blind cricket match in progress
The Ceylon School for the Deaf and Blind which comprises three schools, namely the School for the Blind and the School for the Deaf Ratmalana, and Nuffield School for the Deaf and Blind Kaithady Jaffna, celebrates its centenary this year. A series of events were held to commemorate this historic event.
The Grand Finale of the celebrations will be a centenary cricket match between the present and past pupils of the School for the Blind Ratmalana to be played at the S. Thomas’ Mount Lavinia grounds on September 2. Many past pupils and well-wishers are expected to be present.
The School for the Blind Ratmalana were the pioneers of cricket among blind children. An old pupil, K. Simon, after his return to school from St Thomas’ College, introduced cricket to the school where the game is played with a bell inside the ball. This soon became very popular and has continued to the present day. In 1997 the Past Pupils’Association laid the matting for the cricket pitch. The school was thus moving in the same direction as normal schools giving the blind children the same opportunities as the sighted children.
Students were sent abroad to participate in international cricket matches and tournaments.. In 1982 an Australian visually handicapped cricket team toured the island and several matches were organized. The School for the Blind Ratmalana was the only team to beat them, although they were victorious in the other games played in Sri Lanka
In 1998 some of the cricket team members of the school team were able to participate in the World Cup for Disabled. They were able to compete with Schools at National Level and also participate at International Tournaments and bring victory and honour to the School. In 2005 two students were selected to take part in the World Cup Cricket Tournament for the Blind held in South Africa. In 2008 four students were selected for the tournament in Pakistan.
We’re proud that cricket has spread to all Schools for the Blind in the island and inter-school matches have become popular.
Nimal Bhareti
Follow @timesonlinelk
Related Posts:
School cricket revampedAkila Dananjaya