Jaipur: The Rajasthan Disabled Cricket Association (RDCA) is set to host the Physically Disabled Challenger Tournament 2024 in Jaipur from November 30 to December 3 at the Jaipuria Cricket Academy. The event was unveiled on November 28 by former sports minister and Olympian Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore. Organized in collaboration with the Social Justice and Empowerment Department of the Rajasthan government, this national-level tournament will feature 56 top differently-abled players competing for a spot on the 20-member Indian National Physically Disabled Cricket Team.
The selected team will represent India in the upcoming Four-Nation Quadrilateral Series in Sri Lanka scheduled for January 14, 2025, alongside teams from the UK, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. The tournament is being facilitated by the Differently-Abled Cricket Council of India (DCCI) and the Physically Challenged Cricket Association of India (PCCAI).
During the announcement, Rathore unveiled the tournament trophy and expressed his support for the participants, wishing them success in both the tournament and the upcoming quadrilateral series.
Jyotsna Choudhary, President of the RDCA, voiced her enthusiasm for welcoming talented players from various states, stating that the tournament would be an exciting display of skill and perseverance. She extended her best wishes to all participants for this competitive event.
Rohit Jhalani, head coach of the Indian disabled cricket team, emphasized the tournament as a chance for the identified 56 cricketers to earn a place among the top 20 players. He aims to inspire confidence in these exceptional athletes and help them shine in society.
The four-day tournament will comprise six league matches and a final, formatted as T-20 games played among four teams: India Seniors, India A, India B, and India C. Each team will play three matches, with two matches scheduled daily, culminating in the final on December 3.