ECB CEO Writes to BCCI Secretary Jay Shah Proposing Ownership of National Disability Teams

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) secretary Richard Gould has written to BCCI secretary Jay Shah, proposing the establishment of two national disability cricket teams — one for visually impaired (blind) players and another encompassing physically challenged, intellectually challenged, and hearing impaired athletes. This initiative aims to enhance the sport’s accessibility and popularity within diverse communities. Currently, India’s Differently Abled Cricket Council of India (DCCI), a BCCI sub-committee, exists without independent tournament organization by the Indian board.

Discussions on this proposal are expected during the ICC Annual Conference in Colombo, where Gould will participate in the Chief Executives’ Meet. In his letter, addressed to CEOs of Cricket Australia, PCB, and CSA as well, Gould advocates for two international teams: a standalone blind XI and a pan-disability format including deaf, intellectually impaired, and physically disabled cricketers. He expresses ECB’s willingness to host the inaugural pan-disability tournament involving these nations in 2025, with ICC support aimed at driving member-driven initiatives.

Gould emphasizes the current unstructured, unregulated nature of global disability cricket across different categories — blind, deaf, intellectual impairment, and physical disability. He calls for coordinated strategies to prioritize and enhance disability cricket globally, acknowledging financial constraints while underscoring the potential of reaching the untapped market of 1.3 billion people globally living with various disabilities.

Ravi Chauhan, head of DCCI, is slated to participate in discussions in Sri Lanka, acting as a liaison between his committee and the BCCI to further these initiatives.