Pioneering pan-disability international series to take place between England Men and India Men

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.”

Notes To Editors

• England Men’s newly selected Pan-Disability team will play seven IT20s against India Men’s Pan-Disability team.
• The England Men’s Pan-Disability team will be formed of players who currently make up England Men’s Physical Disability, England Men’s Learning Disability and England Men’s Deaf squads.
• The series will take place across June and July, most likely alongside England Women v India Women. Playing conditions are as yet unconfirmed but at least one player from each impairment discipline will be required to be selected in the XI.
• Domestic disability cricket in England and Wales will remain unaffected by this international pan-disability series.
• Visually Impaired cricket at domestic and international level will remain unaffected by this international pan-disability series.
• England Men's PD, LD and Deaf squad programmes will be put on hold after England Men’s PD tour of Sri Lanka in early 2025.
• An England Men’s Pan-Disability A squad will also be selected.