Cuttack: The historic Barabati Stadium is set to host the T20 Asia Deaf Cricket Cup 2026 from February 19 to 25, marking a significant moment for deaf cricket in the region.
The tournament is being organised under the aegis of the Asian Deaf Cricket Association (ADCA) in collaboration with the Indian Deaf Cricket Association, with support from the Odisha Deaf Cricket Association.
Addressing a press conference at the stadium on Wednesday, ADCA Director Roma Balwani announced that the T20 Asia Deaf Cricket Cup will feature three participating nations — India, Sri Lanka and Nepal. She described the tournament as a prestigious Asian-level competition and noted that this is the first time Barabati Stadium is hosting an event of this nature.
The Indian team will be led by captain Virendra Singh, while Baidyanath Chaudhary will captain Nepal and A. Klep will lead Sri Lanka. The official jerseys for the tournament were also unveiled during the press meet.
League matches will be played daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. until February 24, with the grand finale scheduled for February 25. Organisers expressed confidence that the tournament will not only promote competitive deaf cricket in Asia but also inspire greater inclusivity and recognition for athletes with hearing impairments.
Among those present at the press conference were ADCA President Sumit Jain, CEO Sharmila Subramaniam, General Secretary Sagarkant Senapati and other officials associated with the event.
The hosting of the T20 Asia Deaf Cricket Cup at Barabati Stadium is being seen as a proud moment for Odisha’s sporting fraternity, reinforcing Cuttack’s status as a key venue for national and international cricket events.
