(BCCI Credit)
Richard Gould, the secretary of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), has reached out to Jay Shah, the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), suggesting the introduction of two national disability teams. These teams would cater specifically to the visually impaired and a combined team encompassing physically challenged, intellectually challenged, and hearing impaired players. The aim behind this proposal is to enhance the sport’s appeal within these communities.
In India, while there exists the Differently Abled Cricket Council of India (DCCI), which operates under the BCCI as a sub-committee, the BCCI itself does not currently organize tournaments for differently abled players independently.
Discussions are expected to take place during the ICC Annual Conference in Colombo, where Richard Gould is slated to attend the Chief Executives’ Meet.
“We propose boards operate two international teams — a blind XI as a standalone format and then a pan-disability format with squads consisting of deaf, intellectually impaired and physically disabled cricketers. We would be keen and willing to host the inaugural pan-disability tournament involving our five nations in 2025. The ICC are keen to show collective support for this approach to ensure any steps are member driven,” Gould wrote in a letter, also addressed to Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley, PCB COO Salman Naseer, and CSA CEO Phletsi Moseki. A copy of the letter is with PTI.
Gould has pointed out that global disability cricket lacks structure, regulation, and often faces inadequate support.
“There are many different codes of disability cricket — blind, deaf, intellectual impairment and physical disability and there has been widespread lack of co-ordination and strategy that sits across all four.
“This has not been an area of sport we have collectively prioritised and although financial restraints are felt as prevalently now as ever, now is the time for us to come together to turbocharge the disability game,” Gould further wrote.
Gould notes that globally, there are 1.3 billion people living with various disabilities, representing an untapped market that should be engaged.
It has been reported that Ravi Chauhan, head of DCCI, will be in Sri Lanka to participate in discussions, as he has been instrumental in facilitating communication between his committee and the BCCI.
