Harbhajan Singh to sponsor kit for India's disabled cricket team
Harbhajan Singh is never one to sit at home quietly. Even away from his playing career, Harbhajan has always taken up worthwhile causes and been philanthopic, be it raising money in ISL opener in penalty shoot-outs with Saurav Ganguly or playing in charity football matches wth Bollywood stars. This time, he has come forward to sponsor the kit for the Indian disabled cricket team which is scheduled to play a tri-series in Afghanistan from July 20-30 where Pakistan will be the third participating team.
Ravi Chauhan, the secretary of the Physically Challenged Cricket Association of India (PCCAI) had approached India’s most successful off-spinner after he had been invited to participate in the tour by the Afghanistan Cricket Board. He promptly decided to help out the team which was appreciated by Mr. Chauhan who had this to offer in the way of Thanks.
"We regularly update Harbhajan about the matches our boys play. I asked him if he could sponsor kits and he immediately agreed. Everyone will get a pair each of the practice kit, travelling clothes and match colours. We are grateful to Harbhajan for his help. It would have cost us around Rs. 3 lakh had we made kits for the tour."
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The PCCAI is responsible for promoting the sport for the disabled in the country. Since it’s inception in 2012, the Indian disabled cricket team has played a few matches in Pakistan and in 2014 went on a successful tour in South Africa where they won the bilateral series 6-0, where Mahendra Singh Dhoni had helped out the team by sponsoring their kit.
“We are sportspersons, and we support every sport where the country is involved. It feels very nice (to see them play). Everybody has the right to play whatever sport they want to play, whatever condition you are in. I have watched a couple of their matches in Faridabad, it feels nice,” said former Indian cricketer Chetan Sharma, when asked about the success of the team in South Africa. The players have also found encouragement and praise from Kapil Dev who has even invited the team to his house.
Harbhajan Singh’s sports apparel company, ‘Bhajji Sports’ had acquired permission to get associated with the international team besides being the kit brand used by many of the domestic teams. With big names like Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh sponsoring the team, it’s high team the Indian cricketing fraternity takes more interest in the PCCAI and get behind the disabled team. As Chauhan famously says, “All we need is the people’s support!”