The governing body for cricket in England and Wales has been criticized for making the sport less inclusive for disabled players following a decision to merge three separate disability teams into one mixed-disability squad. Several players have already withdrawn in protest, citing concerns about reduced opportunities and a lack of consultation.
A new pan-disability international series, open to all disabilities, is set to take place against India in the summer. This format, already used in domestic competition, combines the existing Physical Disability (PD), Learning Disability (LD), and Deaf teams into a single unit.
While some players are excited about the chance to play at Lord’s and to be part of a high-profile event aired on national television, others fear the changes will favor the most physically capable players and limit opportunities for those with certain impairments. Two deaf players have already opted out, stating they were not consulted about the restructuring before it was announced.
One former wicketkeeper for the PD team acknowledged that, on paper, the new structure is more cost-effective, requiring fewer resources in terms of travel, coaching, and administration. However, he emphasized that the practical implications raise significant concerns. Issues such as communication between deaf and hearing players, the balance of impairment representation within the squad, and the overall growth of disability cricket were highlighted as major challenges.
The issue of communication has been particularly contentious. Although sign language training is being introduced for squad weekends, some players believe this is inadequate, comparing it to learning a single greeting in a foreign language rather than fostering genuine inclusivity. One player stated that deaf cricket removes the challenges of deafness in competition, while the new format brings those challenges back into focus.
There are also concerns about team selection. In the domestic competition, regulations require teams to include players from all impairment groups, yet historically, learning disability players have often been relegated to secondary roles, such as 12th man. The current England squad is captained by a PD player, and coaching staff have expressed fears that players from the deaf and learning disability groups will not receive equal opportunities in the upcoming international series.
Research conducted by multiple universities has suggested that the merging of impairment groups into one team has made disability cricket more exclusionary rather than inclusive. The study argues that this “lumping together” of different disabilities does not create a level playing field and instead marginalizes those with impairments that may not fit the competitive mold of the new format.
The governing body has defended its decision, stating that the change aims to encourage more nations to establish disability teams, with the ultimate goal of creating a Disability World Cup. However, players have questioned the feasibility of this, as no other country currently plays mixed-disability cricket. Some feel the approach is misguided, suggesting that existing international disability formats, such as deaf cricket, are already thriving and should be expanded rather than replaced.
The organization has acknowledged the concerns raised and has introduced inclusion training for all players to improve integration within the mixed-disability squad. However, critics argue that these efforts fall short of addressing the fundamental issues with the restructuring.
While the move is seen as a step toward innovation in disability cricket, the concerns from players and experts suggest that more work is needed to ensure true inclusivity and fairness within the sport.
