DUBAI As the Pakistan and England disabled teams battle it out at the ICC Academy in Dubai Sports City, passion runs high among the cricketers. Watching them closely, it’s just their disability that differentiates them from normal cricketers as they play the game with the same intensity.
It was two years ago in 2012 that both sides played the first-ever international disabled series recognised and endorsed by the governing body of cricket in their countries, at the same venue.
The same teams are again meeting (Pakistan have already won the Twenty20 Internationals 2-1 and are currently playing the three One-Day Internationals) and the lack of development has been worrying for Amir Uddin Ansari, Honorable Secretary of Pakistan Disabled Cricket Association (PDCA). He feels more effort needs be taken by cricket’s governing body that will encourage disabled teams from other countries.
step ahead
“ICC has to take the step ahead. If it can happen in Pakistan and England, other countries can also promote disability cricket,” Ansari told XPRESS.
“Two years ago when we first played an international series we were excited. But it remains the same till now which is disappointing. I know there are more countries who are interested to form disabled teams but they are not receiving support from their respective boards or ICC,” he added.
But Ansari believed all was not lost and there was hope that disability cricket could become a popular sport around the world.
“When cricket is being promoted in Affiliate and Associate countries, even disability cricket needs to get the same recognition. These boys are disabled but they are nothing less than normal cricketers,” he said.
“Me and Ian Martin (England and Wales Cricket Board’s Head of Disability Cricket) have met the ICC officials during our visit this time and it’s been positive. So we should see some development soon,” he added.
Ansari said he was amazed at the way disability cricket was growing in popularity in Pakistan and expected similar growth in other countries. “More than 600 disabled cricketers are engaged in Pakistan. Over 250 of them play regular first class cricket while over 90 play on a professional level. We have a big pool of players for the national team,” he said.
Martin said: “Cricket is one of the most popular team sports globally yet its profile as a sport for disabled people is not so strong. ECB have been leading the way in the development of the sport for people with all types of disabilities for a number of years.”
