CBRE South Asia has partnered with Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled and the Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) to expand opportunities for cricketers with visual impairments through its corporate social responsibility initiative, Ek Pehal. The collaboration aims to strengthen the support system for blind cricket through training, infrastructure and access to competitive sporting platforms.
The partnership focuses on professional coaching, sporting equipment, fitness support and competitive opportunities for visually impaired athletes. It also seeks to increase public awareness of blind cricket and create greater recognition for players who often have limited access to mainstream sporting resources.
Strengthening Support for Blind Cricketers
Announced at an event in Mumbai titled Beyond Boundaries: Sports Excellence, Inclusion and Empowerment, the partnership included the felicitation of India’s men’s and women’s blind cricket teams. The event also saw the unveiling of the Indian men’s blind cricket team’s official jersey ahead of the second Men’s Blind Cricket Asia Cup, scheduled to take place in Dhaka, Bangladesh, from November 15 to 20, 2026.
As part of the collaboration, the Indian men’s team will attend a specialized coaching camp in Delhi NCR to prepare for the international tournament. Training will cover batting, bowling, fielding, fitness and match strategy, helping players strengthen their skills and improve match readiness.
The support is intended to go beyond tournament preparation. Consistent access to trained coaches, appropriate equipment, fitness facilities and regular competition plays an important role in enabling athletes with visual impairments to develop their abilities and pursue professional sporting opportunities.
Building an Inclusive Sporting Ecosystem
The partnership brings together CBRE’s CSR support with Samarthanam’s work in disability inclusion and CABI’s efforts to develop blind cricket across India. By combining resources and sporting expertise, the initiative seeks to create stronger pathways for players to train, compete and progress in the sport.
For athletes with visual impairments, access to sporting opportunities involves more than participation. Suitable infrastructure, specialised coaching, equipment, travel support and competitive exposure are essential to building confidence and enabling players to perform at higher levels. Sustained investment in these areas can also help make disability sport more accessible to emerging talent.
The event also recognised the achievements of India’s women’s blind cricket team, whose journey was highlighted through a screening of the documentary Dekh Le India. The team went on to win the inaugural Women’s T20 World Cup for the Blind in November 2025, bringing greater visibility to women athletes in disability sport.
Ek Pehal’s Wider CSR Focus
CBRE India’s Ek Pehal initiative works across education, healthcare, nutrition, women’s empowerment, livelihood development and community infrastructure. Through partnerships with more than 12 non-governmental organizations, the initiative has reportedly reached over 510,000 people across India.
The collaboration with Samarthanam and CABI extends this work into disability inclusion through sport, recognizing that access to sporting platforms can contribute to physical well-being, confidence, teamwork and social participation.
By supporting blind cricket through structured training and competitive preparation, CBRE is contributing to a more inclusive sporting environment in which athletes with visual impairments have greater opportunities to develop their talent and gain recognition for their achievements.
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