Blind cricketers off to India to defend World Cup title

The South African Blind Cricket team leaves South Africa for India on Sunday December 1 2002 to defend their World Cup title in Chennai.

Six countries are competing in the Petro World Cup for the Blind in Chennai: South Africa (who won the event in India in 1998), England, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Australia. South Africa's first match is on Wednesday December 4 against the hosts, India.

The South African team will leave from Johannesburg International Airport via Air Mauritius on Sunday at 15.10.

"We would like to wish captain Rory Field and the guys all the best of luck in their attempts to defend their title. Their efforts will set the tone in their own World Cup and also for the ICC Cricket World Cup in February," said UCB CEO Gerald Majola today.

SOUTH AFRICAN BLIND CRICKET TEAM

Rory Field (Captain, player and coach - classed B2), Piet Coetzee (B1), Frans Kruger (B1), Johan Schroeder (B1), Reginald Smal (B1), Paulus Prins (B1), Dumisani Mkwanazi (B1), Pieter van der Berg (B2), Johan Kotze (B2), Christiaan Liebenberg (B2), Riaan Liebenberg (B2), Petrus Le Roux (B2), Ernst Conradie (B3), Adrian Maartens (B3), Adrian Primo (B3), Ragunathan Naidoo (B3), Nathan Meyer (B3).

OFFICIALS:

Preeth Ramlal - MANAGER
Lindie Coetzee - ASSISTANT MANAGER
Mark Kammies - UMPIRE

Players are classed as follows:

B1: Totally blind
B2: Partially blind
B3: Partially sighted

A squad must be made up of a minimum of four B1 players, a minimum of three B2 players and a maximum of four B3 players.

SOUTH AFRICAN FIXTURES:

Wednesday 4 December 2002: vs India
Friday 6 December 2002: vs Sri Lanka
Saturday 7 December 2002: vs Pakistan
Sunday 8 December 2002: vs Australia
Monday 9 December 2002: vs England
Semifinals: Thursday 12 December 2002
Final: Saturday 14 December 2002

CricInfo will be providing coverage of the tournament and full coverage of the final.