India is set to play England in a pioneering seven-match T20 series in the mixed-disability category. The Differently Abled Cricket Council of India (DCCI) on May 29 announced the 16-member squad for the Vitality Mixed Disability Series. It will be the first of its kind and feature players in three categories of disability — Physical Disability (PD), Hearing Impaired (HI) and Intellectual Disability (ID).
The team will start their last preparatory camp in Jaipur on Sunday (June 8), before it flies off to England on June 15. The camp will take place at Jaipuria Cricket Academy and feature all the 16 players selected for the tour along with the reserves.
Speaking exclusively to RevSportz, former Rajasthan Ranji Trophy skipper and the current head coach of the Indian Mixed Disability Team bound for England, Rohit Jhalani said: “We have a full-fledged training plan till June 14. We’ll have three sessions daily — nets in the morning, gym, fielding and recovery in the evening.”
“The team is also set to play a couple of intra-squad matches and a couple of matches with the academy boys,” said Jhalani.
Also Read: Vitality IT20 Mixed Disability Series: Cricket Finds New Hope at the Home of Cricket
The Indian team will play three practice T20 matches against the England Mixed Disability Lions before they play the first official match of the series on June 21, at the County Ground, Taunton. “We’ll play the England Lions in three practice matches and we look forward to them,” Jhalani mentioned.
The first practice match will take place on June 17 at the Budleigh Salterton Cricket Club Ground. From the next day, the venue will host two back-to-back practice matches against the Lions.
As the matches will be played at different venues across England, all eyes will be on the third match, to be played at the iconic Lord’s. Speaking exclusively to RevSportz, the DCCI General Secretary, Ravi Chauhan expressed his happiness, saying: “I never imagined — even in my dreams — that these kids would play at Lord’s. But that was our mission, that they should get the chance to experience the Lord’s one day.”
Mixed Disability Vitality IT20 Series – Schedule (All times in GMT)
- Saturday, 21 June – 1st IT20 – Taunton, 6:30 PM
- Monday, 23 June – 2nd IT20 – Wormsley, 5:00 PM
- Wednesday, 25 June – 3rd IT20 – Lord’s, 3:30 PM
- Friday, 27 June – 4th IT20 – Worcester, 5:00 PM
- Sunday, 29 June – 5th IT20 – Worcester, 2:30 PM
- Tuesday, 1 July – 6th IT20 – Bristol, 2:00 PM (Double Header)
- Thursday, 3 July – 7th IT20 – Bristol, 6:30 PM
