Massive feat, but marginal reward

India’s Blind Women’s T20 World Cup-winning team with Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) chairman GK Mahantesh (centre) on their arrival at the Bengaluru airport on Monday

They are both women's teams, representing the same country and both world champs, yet the difference in their monetary benefits is alarmingly unbelievable.
The Deepika TC-led Indian blind team that won the inaugural Women's T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka on Sunday, received Rs 3000 as match fees for every international game. On the other hand, Harmanpreet Kaur-led Indian women's team, who won the Women's ODI World Cup on November 2, receives Rs 3 lakh for every T20 international, Rs 6 lakh for an ODI and Rs 15 lakh for a Test match. Also, while the ICC prize money for Harmanpreet & Co was R40 crore and additionally the BCCI awarded them Rs 51 crore, India's blind team winners received Rs 5 lakh from the tournament's organisers while the BCCI are yet to announce any reward. Some sponsors have assured Rs 1.25 lakh to each member of India's blind T20 World Cup-winning team, who beat Nepal by seven wickets in the final at Colombo on Sunday.

CABI (Cricket Association for the Blind in India) chairman GK Mahantesh revealed the struggles behind getting a sponsor in the build-up to the T20 World Cup.
"Getting sponsors has always been tough. Two weeks before the start of the tournament, we had no financial support. However, later, we just about managed to do it thanks to some friends and well-wishers who brought Samarthanam Trust and State Bank of India on board to help us," Mahantesh tells mid-day over the phone from Bengaluru on Monday. "The budget for the World Cup was close to R6 crores, because we were hosting it in Delhi, Bangalore and Colombo. The Government of Karnataka assured Rs 1 crore while we are still waiting to hear from the central government," added Mahantesh.

BCCI to provide support

There could be some good news in store though as Mahantesh had a fruitful meeting with former BCCI president and current ICC chief Jay Shah and other BCCI officials at the start of this month, just before the Women's ODI World Cup final in Mumbai. "We have approached the BCCI for support and hopefully, we will get something. We don't know exactly yet, but Jay Shah has told [BCCI secretary Devajit] Saikia that we should do something for blind cricket. Shah has assured us support in future. If the BCCI can allocate a regular grant for CABI and also help with match fees and cash prizes for the players, it will be a blessing for this hardworking team. On Sunday, he [Shah] sent me a congratulatory message. The Prime Minister [Narendra Modi] also congratulated us. Hopefully, we will be meeting him soon," Mahantesh said.

Corporates chip in

Highlighting some of the other avenues of financial support, Mahantesh added: "Besides the match fee of R3000 [per international match], we also try to provide a stipend as most of these girls are from very poor backgrounds. Besides the R5 lakh winner's prize, two corporate outlets have announced cash prizes. The Chintels Group will give R1 lakh to every player of this World Cup-winning team while the Chiplogic Group has assured R25000 for every player," Mahantesh signed off.