On a green cricket field outside Colombo, the sound of a jingling ball rings through the air. Every rattle of the ball is a step forward against the negative attitudes people have about disability.

Sri Lanka and India are hosting the first-ever T20 Cricket World Cup for visually-impaired women. The semifinals take place on Saturday, with India playing Australia and Pakistan playing Nepal. The final will be held on Sunday.

India team manager Shika Shetty told AFP that cricket has changed many lives. She said this World Cup is a huge opportunity for blind women. India captain T.C. Deepika also remembers how people doubted her when she first began playing. She said that some people thought blind women could not play cricket. But once they saw her skills, their attitudes changed.

Blind cricket is played using sound. Players must listen carefully because they cannot see the ball clearly or at all. The ball is a white plastic ball filled with metal pieces, so it makes a rattling sound. Bowlers throw the ball underarm after shouting “play”. Fielders clap once to show where they are standing.

Each team has 11 players. At least four must be totally blind, and they wear blindfolds to make it fair. Some players are partially sighted and are placed in groups based on how far they can see. Runs scored by a totally blind player count as two runs.

Sri Lankan player Chaminda Karunaratne, who is blind, said cricket has helped his mental health and confidence. He wants more blind women to join the sport. He says cricket helps people move freely, feel stronger, and feel part of the community.

The Sri Lankan women’s team was difficult to form, said Association President Sudesh Tharanga. Even though many Sri Lankans have visual impairments, they only started building the team in September after being asked to co-host the tournament. Still, Sri Lanka managed to bring one of the youngest teams to the World Cup.