December 2025, Karachi: Standard Chartered Pakistan and Connect Hear (www.connecthear.org), Pakistan’s leading assistive technology start-up and pioneer in accessibility solutions, successfully organised the Access.Ability.League 2025 – An Inclusive Cricket Exhibition on Saturday at the Aga Khan University Sports Complex, Karachi. Held in honour of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the exhibition brought together Deaf, Blind, and Wheelchair cricket teams from across Pakistan, including athletes who compete at national and international levels, to celebrate sporting excellence, champion inclusion, and affirm every athlete’s
right to participate fully in sports.
The aim of the exhibition was to acknowledge and elevate athletes with disabilities who have achieved remarkable success in sports, and to showcase how inclusive sporting opportunities empower individuals. The programme featured three main athletic sections: Blind Cricket, Deaf Cricket, and Wheelchair Cricket. Each team demonstrated exceptional skill, strategy, and spirit, proving that access to sport, adaptive training, and inclusive competition platforms forge pathways for national recognition. The event also served as a critical call to action for both public and private institutions to urgently invest in inclusive sports programmes and infrastructure nationwide.
The proceedings commenced with a welcome address by Azima Dhanjee, CEO of Connect Hear, in which she highlighted the organisation’s mission to make sports and technology accessible to all.
Speaking at the occasion, Ms Dhanjee said: "Cricket is the heartbeat of this nation, and we believe it can also become the strongest bridge for inclusion. This league is not just a one-day exhibition; it is the beginning of a movement. We hope that federations, institutions, and sponsors across Pakistan will join hands with us to ensure that inclusive cricket becomes a permanent part of our sporting culture, not an exception".
The opening ceremony also featured remarks from Mr. Tuaha Ahmed Faruqi, Secretary of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPD), Government of Sindh, along with representatives from Aga Khan University, collectively emphasising their commitment to accessibility and empowerment for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
Commenting on the event, Yasir Khwaja, Head of HR, Standard Chartered Pakistan, stated, “As a purpose-led organisation, Standard Chartered continues to invest in programmes that drive meaningful, measurable impact. Supporting this inclusive cricket tournament reflects our commitment to enabling participation, equity, and empowerment through sport. We are proud to contribute to a platform that demonstrates the value of inclusion in action.”
The event was supported by a strong network of partners, with Standard Chartered Pakistan taking the lead as the main sponsor. Other sponsors included Bank AL Habib, Contour Software, Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC), Habib Metro Bank, Brand & Media Learning Hub, PMYP (Prime Minister Youth Programme), and Aga Khan University Sports Complex.
The Access.Ability.League 2025 was received overwhelmingly, and over 1,000 attendees, with and without disabilities, enjoyed the event. It garnered immense encouragement, support, and appreciation from spectators, dignitaries, and PWDs alike, reinforcing the trans formative power of inclusive sports in changing perceptions and creating opportunities.
