Barabati Stadium in Cuttack to host the maiden Deaf Cricket Asia Cup 2026

Bhubaneswar/Cuttack/New Delhi: The ADCA T20I Asia Cup 2026 is set to begin on February 19 at the iconic Barabati Stadium, marking a significant milestone for deaf cricket in Asia. The tournament will run until February 25, bringing together top deaf cricket talent from across the region.

The championship is being organised by the Asian Deaf Cricket Association in collaboration with the Indian Deaf Cricket Association, with support from the Odisha Deaf Cricket Association.

The tournament will feature three participating nations — India, Sri Lanka and Nepal — competing in the T20I format. The teams will be led by experienced captains. India will be captained by Virender Singh, Sri Lanka to be led by A. Kalep and Nepal will be captained by Baidhanath Chaudhary

Ahead of the tournament, teams underwent preparatory practice sessions from February 14 to 16 at the KIIT Cricket Ground to fine-tune their preparations.

The opening ceremony is scheduled to begin at 10:00 AM on February 19, setting the stage for a week-long celebration of competitive cricket and sporting inclusion.

Sumit Jain, President of the Asian Deaf Cricket Association, described the tournament as a landmark event.

“This championship marks a milestone in ADCA’s journey of nurturing diversity and promoting world-class deaf cricket. We thank our partners for believing in our vision and supporting the ‘Dare to Dream’ movement to mainstream deaf cricket talent across Asia. Special thanks to all our partners for their support for this maiden tournament. We also thank OCA and ODCA for their immense support,” he said.

Roma Balwani, CEO of the Indian Deaf Cricket Association and Director of ADCA, said hosting the tournament at Cuttack was deeply inspiring for the players.

“Playing in Cuttack, one of India’s most iconic cricket venues, is truly inspiring for our athletes. At IDCA, we believe in enabling inclusion through disability sport, especially cricket. We deeply appreciate the belief of our partners, state associations and supporters. We salute every athlete here for their passion, resilience and excellence on and off the field,” she said.

She added that IDCA played a pivotal role in facilitating arrangements for the visiting teams, who expressed gratitude for the hospitality extended during the championship. She also acknowledged the support of IDCA Vice President and General Secretary Sagarkanta Senapati and ODCA CEO Ms. Sharmila Subramanian for ensuring a memorable experience for teams from Sri Lanka and Nepal.

With strong institutional backing and international participation, the ADCA T20I Asia Cup 2026 is poised to reinforce the growing stature of deaf cricket across Asia while promoting inclusion and excellence in sport.

Tags : Deaf cricket, Barabati Stadium, Odisha, Cuttack, Nepal cricket