ICRC tournament a landmark event for physical disability cricket globally, says ECB official

The ICRC’s Twenty20 international tournament beginning in Dhaka on Sep 2 will encourage more cricketing nations to have their own cricket programmes for persons with disability, says the chief of the English cricket team for the physically challenged.

“We are on the eve of a very exciting tournament which is a landmark for physical disability cricket globally,” Ian Martin, England and Wales Cricket Board’s Head of Disability, said on Sunday.

He was speaking at a reception given by the British High Commissioner for the English team that will face Bangladesh on the opening match of the first-ever T20 international tournament for the physically challenged at the Mirpur stadium.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the nine-day event that will also feature teams from Afghanistan, India and Pakistan.

The International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) is hosting the event in an effort to promote the cause of social inclusion of the people living with disabilities.

bdnews24.com is the competition’s media partner.

Martin thanked everyone involved for their “commitment, drive and vision to this initiative which will serve everyone involved in disability cricket for the future growth of our sport”.

The English cricket board also helped Bangladesh form its own Physically Challenged Cricket Team that is taking part in the tournament.

“Bangladesh is rightly renowned as a cricketing hotbed and there is a huge potential for growth in disability cricket in the country,” he said.

“We’re fully supportive of the BCB and ICRC’s plans and we trust their initiative will encourage more cricket-loving nations to develop their own disability cricket programmes and national squads.”

High Commissioner Robert Gibson said people with disabilities “face challenges every day, but through sport one can collectively address and overcome obstacles and show the world that disability is not a barrier to achieving dreams”.

“The teams competing over the next two weeks will be like any other - passionate, committed and determined to win,” he said.

He thanked Prime Minister Hasina for giving her time for the inauguration.

The Prime Minister’s Adviser on Public Administration Affairs, HT Imam, conveyed the best wishes to all teams and hoped it would be an “evenly competitive” tournament.

The ICRC head of delegation, Christine Cipolla, said at the reception “it’s a unique event that we are organising worldwide for the first time”.

She said the next time efforts would be made to increase the number of teams.

“We start with five nations. It’s not a limited tournament. We are ready to increase the numbers.”

“Cricket is a passion that unites people,” she said.

Date	Match	Time	Venue
Sep 2, Wednesday	Bangladesh-England	11am	SBNCS
Sep 3, Thursday	Pakistan-Afghanistan	9:30am	BKSP-3
Sep 3, Thursday	India-England	1:30pm	BKSP-4
Sep 4, Friday	India-Afghanistan	9:30am	BKSP-3
Sep 4, Friday	Bangladesh-Pakistan	1:30pm	BKSP-4
Sep 6, Sunday	Bangladesh Afghanistan	9:30am	BKSP-3
Sep 6. Sunday	India-Pakistan	1:30pm	BKSP-4
Sep 7, Monday	Pakistan-England	9:30am	BKSP-3
Sep 7, Monday	Bangladesh-India	1:30pm	BKSP-4
Sep 8, Tuesday	England-Afghanistan	9:30am	BKSP-3
Sep 10, Thursday	Final	9:30am	BKSP-4