Disabled cricket, a bilateral series and the role of ECB
While a lot of us are gifted with physical and mental health, there are those, who have never experienced things that we, take for granted.
We don’t usually see physical and mentally impaired people enjoying life like we do but the world is changing now and since the last century or so, the disabled now are appreciated to take part in all walks of life like any other normal human being.
With time, sport has now evolved into one of the biggest sources of recreation and is an important part of a normal person’s life.
For some, watching does the trick, but for those, who, want to get a feel of the real thing, physical involvement is necessary. Different kinds of sports need varying capacities of physical and mental capabilities, there are sports that need a high degree
of intelligence and mental aptitude like most of the board games.
While there are those like cricket and football that need a high degree of skill and fitness, modifying these sports according to the needs and merits of the physically and mentally impaired people comes as a huge challenge.
In recent times many of the existing sports have been modified for the disabled people but several sports have been created specifically for the impaired, all these kinds of sports are generally referred to as disabled sports.
Out of all the adapted sports, disabled cricket is one that has made a name for itself, and is now played at both national and international levels.
Countries like England, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746, and, Pakistan have recognized disabled cricket as a sport and the players now take part in official tours to different countries.
The http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755’s governing body for disabled cricket is called Pakistan Disabled Cricket Association (PDCA), while the England Cricket Board (ECB) oversees all aspects of disabled cricket in its jurisdiction.
The ECB is determined to make the dream of the physically and mentally handicapped to play cricket a reality.
In an attempt to develop the sport for those with disabilities the board has come up with a vision to reform and establish disabled cricket as one of the most respected and nurtured sports in the future.
ECB has been phenomenal in its pursuit of organizing disabled cricket since 1998 when it brought together all the charities supporting the cause to create an aligned and co-ordinated structure, as a result the ECB Disabilities Management Committee came to
life.
The committee did not only comprise of charities but all those, who have raised their voices and worked for the development of the game. Finally after a decade or more of relentless hard-work the idea is transforming into something practical.
Ian Martin, the manager of ICC and ECB’s disabled cricket, met with officials of PDCA in early January to discuss the prospects of holding a bilateral series.
The organizers commented last Thursday that Pakistan and England will make history by venturing in a bilateral series between the disabled cricket teams of the two nations next year, which is going to be a boost for the handicapped.
Amiruddun Ansari, the secretary of PDCA, commented that the dates and venues of the three One Day and two T20I matches will be decided later.
The purpose of the series is to send a strong message to the world that a physical or mental handicap is not a cause of impediment in life and with a little bit of courage and determination no obstacle is too big to overcome.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Rashid-Latif-c84084, former captain and wicket keeper of Pakistan cricket team, commented that he will do his best to promote disabled cricket. Latif was caught by surprise when he saw the talent that some of these disabled cricketers’ posses. He has also vowed
to initiate a research programme into disabled cricket in order to provide assistance in honing the skills of the cricketers.
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