ECB’s Disability Cricket Overhaul Sparks Controversy Amid Inclusion Concerns

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) faces criticism for making disability cricket less inclusive, as several players protest against its decision to merge three separate England teams into a single mixed disability squad.

This shift means that players from Physical Disability (PD), Learning Disability (LD), and Deaf teams will now compete together in a new pan-disability format. The world’s first international series under this system will be held in England against India in June and July. However, concerns are rising that the move will sideline less able players and limit opportunities for disabled cricketers at the elite level.

Players Withdraw Amid Concerns

Two England Deaf players have already opted out of the India series, claiming that the ECB failed to consult them before announcing the change in December. Liam Thomas, former England PD wicketkeeper who retired in January, acknowledged the excitement of playing at Lord’s this summer and having the series aired on Sky Sports, but raised key concerns.

“It’s a great opportunity, and in theory, it works,” Thomas said. “But when you start breaking it down, you see real issues. Communication between impairment groups is a challenge. If there are only five PD spots in the squad, how do we grow physical disability cricket?”

A major concern is communication between hearing and deaf players. The ECB plans to introduce sign language training for the squad, but one England Deaf cricketer dismissed this effort as insufficient.

“It reduces BSL [British Sign Language] to a tick-box exercise,” he said. “You wouldn’t say, ‘A French player has joined us, but it’s fine because we all learned how to say bonjour.’ Deaf cricket removes the barriers of deafness and allows us to play our best game, but this new format highlights those barriers instead.”

Fear of Marginalization in the India Series

The ECB has implemented rules in the Disability Premier League (DPL) to ensure teams do not consist entirely of one impairment group. However, concerns remain that players from Deaf and LD categories will be sidelined in the upcoming series.

A source close to the national setup noted, “In the last three DPL finals, the 12th man on each team was always an LD player. LD and Deaf players are typically given limited overs, while PD players dominate.”

All four captains in the 2024 DPL came from the PD group, and PD player Callum Flynn will captain England against India, further fueling concerns of imbalance.

Research Highlights Increased Exclusion

A study conducted by Bournemouth University, Canterbury Christ Church University, and the University of Waikato argues that the DPL’s approach has made disability cricket more exclusionary rather than inclusive.

Dr. Ben Powis, senior lecturer in sport at Bournemouth University, criticized the ECB’s move. “Streamlining squads means some players with specific impairments will be frozen out of international cricket,” he stated. “The ECB has created a system designed for failure.”

ECB Defends Its Decision

Despite criticism, the ECB maintains that the shift aims to encourage more nations to adopt disability teams and pave the way for a future Disability World Cup.

However, this reasoning has been challenged by players. One England Deaf cricketer remarked, “It’s colonial in nature. The ECB is pushing its vision as the global standard, while Deaf cricket is already thriving internationally. The reality is that they are the ones falling behind.”

An ECB spokesperson responded to concerns by acknowledging the challenges but reaffirmed their commitment to making disability cricket more accessible.

“We are saddened to hear of any player’s struggles in the DPL. We’ve introduced 17 hours of mandatory inclusion training for all impairment groups,” the spokesperson stated. “This summer’s trial of mixed disability international cricket is meant to bring more players and fans into the game.”

As England prepares for the historic series against India, the debate continues over whether this new approach truly fosters inclusivity or limits opportunities for disabled cricketers.