UK Blind Baseball Association

UKBBA National Cup 2026
The inaugural UKBBA National Blind Baseball Cup took place on Sunday at Flixton Girls School. Despite a rainy start to the morning, the skies cleared to provide a warm afternoon for an excellent day of competitive Blind Baseball.

Four teams battled it out for the first-ever National Cup title:

East Lancashire Legends
Greater Manchester Falcons
Northern Rockets
TSM United
Game 1: Northern Rockets 2-0 East Lancashire Legends
The opening game saw East Lancashire Legends take on the Northern Rockets, a team made up of players from the Lancashire Lions and Greater Manchester Gladiators.

Outstanding defence from Arslan Sabir meant East Lancashire were unable to reach base during the opening two innings. Arslan then demonstrated his class with the bat, scoring a run in each of the opening two innings, whilst Sheraz Chohan recorded two RBIs. The Rockets maintained their excellent defensive display, with Arslan recording a further three outs in the final two innings to secure a deserved 2-0 victory.

Game 2: TSM United 6-0 Greater Manchester Falcons
TSM United, made up of players from the Merseyside Trojans, Sheffield Strikers and Hartlepool Monkeys, began their campaign against tournament newcomers Greater Manchester Falcons.

TSM's defence kept the Falcons scoreless in the opening two innings, with Ray Clements recording an important out to close one inning.

With the bat, TSM showed their strength. Steve Smith crossed home following an RBI from Frank Clayton to give TSM a 1-0 lead after the opening inning. The second inning saw the runs flow as Nomaan Iqbal (2), Steve Smith (2) and Matt Cliffe all scored to record the maximum possible five runs. Another solid defensive display ensured TSM completed a convincing 6-0 victory.

Game 3: TSM United 0-0 East Lancashire Legends
Playing back-to-back games, TSM faced East Lancashire Legends.

East Lancashire produced a much-improved performance and perhaps TSM began to feel the effects of consecutive matches. Excellent defence from Zaheer Hayat and sighted defensive player Adil Asif for East Lancashire, together with Nomaan Iqbal for TSM, ensured the game finished in a hard-fought 0-0 draw.

Game 4: Northern Rockets 2-0 Greater Manchester Falcons
The Northern Rockets faced Greater Manchester Falcons in the fourth game of the day.

The opening two innings remained scoreless thanks to some excellent defensive work from Muhammad Sohail and Mahomed Khatri for the Falcons, whilst Arslan Sabir and Shoaib Nazir impressed for the Rockets.

The breakthrough finally came in the third inning when Arslan Sabir and Sheraz Chohan both crossed home plate. RBIs from Sheraz Chohan and Kashif secured a 2-0 victory, despite determined defensive efforts from Tokeer Akhtar and Khatri.

Game 5: Greater Manchester Falcons 0-0 East Lancashire Legends
Game five saw the Greater Manchester Falcons take on East Lancashire Legends.

Once again, defence dominated as neither side could break the deadlock, with the game ending 0-0 and the Falcons earning their first point of the competition.

East Lancashire threatened throughout, with Salim, Salman and Abu producing some strong hitting and aggressive base running but were unable to convert their chances.

Muhammad Sohail once again stood out for the Falcons, recording three outs, while Zaheer and Abu each claimed two outs for East Lancashire.

Game 6: Northern Rockets 2-1 TSM United
The final match of the tournament would decide the destination of the trophy. Following their draw with East Lancashire, TSM United needed victory over the Northern Rockets to become champions.

The Rockets were held scoreless in the opening inning, but in the second inning Arslan Sabir gave his side the lead after stealing third base following an overthrow, with Sheraz Chohan recording another RBI. TSM limited the damage to a single run thanks to two excellent outs from Steve Smith.

Despite possessing one of the tournament's strongest batting line-ups, TSM were unable to respond in their opening two innings as the Rockets' defence, led by Arslan Sabir (three outs) and Sheraz Chohan (one out), kept them scoreless.

The Rockets doubled their advantage in the third inning as Arslan Sabir crossed home once again, with another RBI for Sheraz Chohan. TSM kept themselves within touching distance thanks to outs from Nomaan Iqbal, Steve Smith and Ray Clements, who combined to run out Basharat and Shoaib.

TSM mounted one final comeback in the last inning. Steve Smith scored to reduce the deficit to 2-1, with an RBI from Alan McComb. With Nomaan Iqbal standing on third base and Matt Cliffe at the plate, it looked as though TSM might force a tie. However, Sheraz Chohan produced a decisive double play to end the game, securing both the victory and the inaugural UKBBA National Cup for the Northern Rockets.

Final Standings
🥇 Northern Rockets – UKBBA National Cup Champions 2026
🥈 TSM United
🥉 East Lancashire Legends
4️⃣ Greater Manchester Falcons

Results 5/7/26
East Lancs Legends v Northern Rockets 0-2
GM Falcons v TSM United 0-6
TSM United v East Lancs Legends 0-0
Northern Rockets v GM Falcons 2-0
GM Falcons v East Lancs Legends 0-0
Northern Rockets v TSM United 2-1

Individual Awards

Most Valuable Player (MVP)
🏆 Arslan Sabir (Northern Rockets)
5 runs scored
7 single outs
2 double outs

Best Offensive Player
🏆 Steve Smith (TSM United)
4 runs scored

Best Defensive Player
🏆 Muhammad Sohail (Greater Manchester Falcons)
5 defensive outs

Thank You
A huge thank you goes to all of the players, officials, volunteers and sighted assistants who helped make the tournament possible. The standard of play, sportsmanship and camaraderie on display throughout the day was outstanding and highlighted the continued growth of Blind Baseball across the UK.

Congratulations once again to the Northern Rockets, our inaugural UKBBA National Blind Baseball Cup Champions.

We now look forward to welcoming everyone back for an even bigger and better tournament in 2027.

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UKBBA National Cup 2026
This Sunday 5th July at 12pm
Featuring
East Lancashire Legends
Greater Manchester Falcons
Northern Rockets
TSM United

Tune in on our You Tube Channel

https://youtube.com/?si=s97MYpOJWjefNTdc

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UKBBA National League – Match Report

Saturday 27 June
East Lancs Legends vs Greater Manchester Gladiators
Venue: Parrs Wood High School, Didsbury

The second round of the UKBBA National League saw East Lancs Legends host the reigning 2025 champions, Greater Manchester Gladiators, at Parrs Wood High School in Didsbury.

Both teams came into the fixture after encouraging opening games. The Gladiators edged past Lancashire Lions by a single point in a thrilling contest, while the Legends showed plenty of promise despite suffering defeat in a rain-affected opener against the Lions. In that match, Saleem, AJ and Salman all reached 2nd and 3rd base regularly, giving the Legends confidence heading into this encounter.

The Legends began brightly, but the Gladiators’ disciplined defence quickly reminded everyone why they are the defending champions. Tight fielding and composed play prevented East Lancs from registering a point, with Greater Manchester closing out the first two innings in impressive fashion.

When it was their turn to bat, the Gladiators made a slow start with a number of strikeouts. However, new signing Visrat picked up exactly where he left off from the previous fixture, smashing the game’s first home run to the delight of the Gladiators supporters.

That sparked the visitors into life. Arslan Sabir followed with the first home run of his career before Visrat continued his incredible batting display by adding three more home runs, finishing the day with an outstanding four home runs. Arslan wasn’t finished either, adding another home run and driving in a further RBI as the Gladiators built an impressive total of seven points.

Despite the scoreline, the Legends never gave up. Their recent training was evident as they regularly put runners on base and created opportunities. Debutant Zahid Makba showed promising signs, and there were plenty of positives for East Lancs to take from the performance.

However, the Gladiators maintained complete control defensively. Shoaib and Arslan Sabir produced regular outs to prevent any comeback, ensuring Greater Manchester never loosened their grip on the contest.

Although still searching for their first victory, the Legends continue to improve with every fixture and look capable of causing teams problems as the season progresses.

The win sees the Greater Manchester Gladiators make it two wins from two, sending them to the top of the National League table as they continue their bid to successfully defend their UKBBA title.

Player of the Match (MVP)

Arslan Sabir – A superb all-round performance, contributing with outstanding defence, key outs, home runs and a crucial RBI to lead the Gladiators to another impressive victory.

The UKBBA would like to thank all of the officials and volunteers for their hard work and dedication in making these fixtures possible. Your continued support is greatly appreciated and is vital to the success of the National League.
British Blind Sport Sport England The National Lottery Community Fund

⚾️🥎 UK Blind Baseball Association at the Eye Matters Sports Day 🥎⚾️

On Saturday 20th June, the UK Blind Baseball Association was delighted to deliver Blind Baseball throughout the day at the Eye Matters Sports Day held at Caledonian Park (London).

A huge well done and thank you to all of the coaching staff who delivered an outstanding and engaging experience to a fantastic group of visually impaired participants. The day was received incredibly well, with many participants sharing that they had never experienced a sport quite like Blind Baseball before. For some, it was the very first time they had ever had the opportunity to run freely and take part in a fast-paced team sport.

Throughout the day, participants embraced Blind Baseball with real enthusiasm, energy and determination. There was a clear appetite for the sport to be developed further across the South, and as an organisation, UKBBA remains passionate about growing the game and creating more opportunities for blind and visually impaired people to get involved in sport and physical activity.

The event was exceptionally well organised by Susie and her team of dedicated volunteers, and we would like to extend our sincere thanks for all their hard work in making the day such a success.

A special thank you to Saima Ashraf MBE for partnering with us on this fantastic project and helping to make the event possible.

We would also like to recognise our brilliant coaching team:
⭐ Saifur Rehman
⭐ Angie Kurucz
⭐ Adil Asif (East Lancs Legends Baseball Club)

Together they delivered a fantastic day of Blind Baseball, ensuring all participants had the opportunity to engage fully, enjoy every aspect of the sport, and leave excited for more opportunities to play.

One of the most powerful moments of the day came from participant Marla Hornbrook, who said:

“Trying Blind Baseball made me feel free. I’ve never had the opportunity to run before, and I felt so excited to be given that chance.”

Her partner, Ibrahim, also shared how much he enjoyed hitting the ball and running the bases.

Comments like these are exactly why we do what we do. Hearing such positive feedback and seeing the impact of inclusive sport in action is incredibly rewarding.

UKBBA will continue its outreach work to promote Blind Baseball across the country and create more opportunities for blind and visually impaired people to experience the joy, freedom and excitement that the sport can bring.

📸🎥 Check out the photos and videos below!

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🌟 From Isolation to Inspiration – Tokeer’s Journey 🌟

In his early to late 20s, Tokeer was living a fully active and independent life. He used to drive, played cricket at a good level, enjoyed football, and was passionate about sport in every form.

But gradually, his sight began to deteriorate due to RP (Retinitis Pigmentosa) Over the following years, everyday life became increasingly challenging.

Then came the COVID lockdown period, which brought even more isolation. During this time, Tokeer began relying more on adapted equipment, accessibility tools, and assistive technology — including software designed to support blind and partially sighted people with independence and daily tasks.

Despite adapting to these life changes, something was still missing.

Sport had always been a huge part of who he was, yet he had very little awareness of the opportunities available for blind and partially sighted people.

That’s when he discovered British Blind Sport.

After visiting their website, Tokeer found his nearest club — the Lancashire Lions — and made a phone call that would completely change his life.

That one step opened the door to a whole new world.

Through the club, Tokeer rediscovered his love for sport and explored opportunities he never knew existed — including blind cricket, goalball, and eventually blind baseball.

At first, he wasn’t sure about blind baseball.

But it didn’t take long before he realised how exciting, unique, and addictive the sport really was.

“It suited me perfectly,” he says.
“I love explosive sports — hitting the ball, sprinting to bases, diving in the field, and making plays. It’s like a crossover between cricket and goalball.”

And his message to anyone unsure about trying it?

“Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. Blind baseball is one of the most enjoyable sports out there and covers so many aspects of fitness.”

His passion and commitment quickly turned into success.

In 2023, Tokeer achieved a huge milestone when he was selected to represent Great Britain at the European Cup in Italy — a proud and unforgettable moment in his journey.

Now, he’s focused on giving others the same opportunity he once needed.

This year, Tokeer will launch his own team — the Greater Manchester Falcons — in the National Cup, with a mission to help blind and partially sighted people reconnect with sport, confidence, and community.

“I want to make sure nobody feels the isolation I once felt,” he says.
“There are opportunities out there, and sport can completely change your life.”

For Tokeer, blind baseball is about far more than fitness.

⚾ It’s movement.
⚾ It’s teamwork.
⚾ It’s friendship.
⚾ It’s confidence.
⚾ It’s independence.
⚾ It’s community.

Most importantly, it’s proof that sight loss does not stop ambition, passion, or purpose. 💙



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🌟 PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: AJ’S BLIND BASEBALL JOURNEY 🌟 AJ, who has a sight condition known as Stargardt, moved to the UK just 2 and a half years ago from South Africa . Since joining Blind Baseball in December with the Blackburn group, she has impressed everyone with her skill, determination, and positive attitude. ⚾ AJ says the sport has given her a reason to get out of the house, meet new and interesting people, and build confidence both on and off the field. She’s looking forward to competing this year for the East Lancs Legends in the UK Blind Baseball League. 💪 Session by session, AJ is becoming more active, improving her fitness, and growing her confidence. She’s focused on doing her best for her team and is quickly establishing herself as an all-round great athlete. 👏 It’s wonderful to see new players like AJ participating, embracing challenges, and adding their own stories to the sport. We’re all excited to watch her shine this season!

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UKBBA Blind Baseball League – Game 2 Result:
⚾ East Lancs Legends 0 – 4 Lancashire Lions ⚾

A much closer contest than the scoreline suggests, as East Lancs Legends showed plenty of promise in their first game of the season. Consistent hitting and smart running from Salman Shaike and Salim Patel, alongside an impressive debut from AJ, saw the Legends reach base on several occasions. However, the Lions’ defence held firm, with East Lancs twice narrowly missing home plate to score.
After a tense and tightly fought opening innings, Lancashire Lions broke the deadlock in the second. Zahid Mahmood, supported by runner Zion Orire and MVP Sheraz Chohan, helped the Lions put two important runs on the board.
The Legends continued to battle throughout the third and fourth innings and came agonisingly close to scoring, but Salim and AJ were left stranded on base as the Lions edged key moments. Lancashire added two further runs in the third innings through Zahid and Abu to extend their lead.
As the drizzle turned into heavier rain, the umpires made the decision to abandon the game in the fourth innings for safety reasons. With the required minimum of three innings completed by both teams, the result stands. The Lions now move to the top of the table, boosted by the bonus point earned in their opening game.
🏆 MVP: Sheraz Chohan (Lancashire Lions)
👏 Congratulations to Lancashire Lions!
➡️ Next up: East Lancs Legends host GM Gladiators.

Photo shows the result.

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2nd game of the season and East Lancs start the campaign against Lancashire Lions VISC looking for their first wim following a defeat in the first game against GM Gladiators

⚾️🔊 GAME DAY IS COMING! 🔊⚾️

Come along and support an incredible day of Blind Baseball as East Lancs Legends take on Lancashire Lions V.I.S.C.!

📅 Saturday 16th May 2026
🕧 12:30PM Start
📍 Cheetham Hill Sports Club, Manchester

This is more than just a game — it’s about community, inclusion, passion, and making some noise from the sidelines! 💜

Bring your friends, bring your family, and help us create an amazing atmosphere for both teams. All welcome!


UK Blind Baseball AssociationLancashire Lions VISC

Game 2 of the UKBBA Blind Baseball 2026 Season tomorrow with East Lancs Legends taking on Lancashire Lions VISC
Game starts at 12:30pm and you can watch live via our You Tube Channel

https://youtube.com/?si=-ej_jpH0na87bUU2
Lancashire Lions VISC
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UK Blind Baseball Association UKBBA is the organisation set up to promote and deliver the sport of blind baseball across the UK.