Photo Credit: ECB
England Men’s Pan-Disability side to host India Men in new format of disability cricket at international level
Disability cricket will break new ground in 2025 with the first pan-disability series between two countries, with India Men coming to England to compete in an IT20 series across June and July.
The format – pioneered by the Disability Premier League here in the UK – sees a team of mixed impairment players playing together, with players from the Learning Disability, Physical Disability and Deaf squads forming each team’s XI.
Disability cricket at international level has traditionally been played in separate impairment disciplines, but this series would trial the pan-disability model at the highest level.
Should the trial be successful, countries would be able to focus their resources on two formats – Pan-Disability and Blind Cricket – encouraging greater participation and higher standards.
Head of Disability Cricket Ian Martin said: “The disability game is growing fast, and we want to capitalise on this opportunity to make it inclusive for all.
“Despite that growth, cricket is still playing catch-up to other global disability team sports such as football, rugby and basketball. The regulations, funding and support underpinning disability cricket at international level are too often unpredictable and inconsistent.
“Having five formats of disability cricket (PD, LD, Deaf, Blind, Wheelchair) is currently not working for disability cricket at international level. Using a streamlined system of pan-disability cricket, the global game can come together and consider making necessary, bold changes to be a truly inclusive and sustainable sport for all. I’m really excited about what this means for the future of disability cricket.”
Deputy CEO and MD England Women’s Cricket, Clare Connor, said: “The Disability Premier League has been a hugely exciting step forward for disability cricket here in England and Wales.
“The quality of cricket on show has been outstanding, and we’ve seen new levels of exposure with fantastic coverage from Sky Sports.
“We believe it’s worth exploring how pan-disability cricket at international level is received, and we’re delighted to be welcoming India next summer for a pioneering series of international pan-disability cricket. It’s also going to be hugely significant for us to host England Men, England Women and England Men’s Pan-Disability sides in the same summer against the same opposition.”
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Stay ahead of the latest cricket industry trends by subscribing to our free cricexec “daily briefing” newsletter.
Name of Author: ECB
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is the national governing body for cricket in England and Wales, formed on January 1, 1997. It combines roles from the Test and County Cricket Board, National Cricket Association, and Cricket Council, and integrated the Women’s Cricket Association in 1998. Based at Lord’s Cricket Ground, the ECB oversees all levels of cricket, including national teams for men, women, and various disability categories.
