JAIPUR: The Indian deaf cricket team outclassed Sri Lanka comfortably by six wickets to win the inaugural Asia Cup T20 tournament in Cuttack on Wednesday.
The hosts had earlier defeated Sri Lanka by four wickets in the opening encounter of the competition before registering a thumping 10-wicket win over Nepal.
Sri Lanka won the third match of the tourney by six wickets against Nepal.
In a reverse fixture, Sri Lanka crushed Nepal by 157 runs while the team from the island nation made India work hard for a narrow one-run win.
India, however, crushed Nepal in their next match by nine wickets to make their place in the final.
Sai Akash was adjudged Player of the Match in the final for his 14-ball 27 and two wickets.
Sri Lanka's Gimadu L Malkam was declared the best batter as well as payer of the series for scoring 196 runs. His compatriot Gihan Lasidu D' Silva was named the best bowler for his 10 wickets in the competition.
Ravi Kant Chauhan, General Secretary, DCCI, said: "India Deaf Team's triumph in the inaugural ADCA T20I Asia Cup is a proud moment for disability cricket in the country. This victory reflects the players' resilience, discipline, and unwavering commitment. Such milestones reinforce the importance of structured opportunities and continued support to ensure our differently abled athletes receive the recognition and platform they truly deserve."
Speaking about the series, Sumit Jain, President, ADCA, and vice president DCCI said: "Hosting the first edition of the ADCA T20I Asia Cup, 2026 in Barabati Stadium was a true privilege for us and reflects our continued commitment towards promoting cricket among hearing-impaired athletes from across Asia. I congratulate all the participants who were part of this historic event, and we hope to continue hosting more of these international matches across Asia. We are also deeply honoured to have all the dignitaries present on this momentous occasion. I would like to extend my gratitude to all officials of ODCA and OCA for helping us organise this successful event here in Cuttack." PTI
Suhas Nayse, Special correspondent, Sports, The Times of India, J...
Read MoreSuhas Nayse, Special correspondent, Sports, The Times of India, Jaipur edition.
He joined TOI Jaipur edition in February, 2023. He was also part of the TOI Nagpur edition from 2006 to 2020 as a sports reporter. He has been covering sports for more than two decades.
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