Pakistan, England to play disabled series

Pakistan and England will play a historic disabled cricket series next year with the organisers saying Thursday they hoped the event would help the physically impaired lead independent lives.

Officials from the Pakistan Disabled Cricket Association (PDCA) met with Ian Martin, manager of disabled cricket for the International Cricket Council (ICC) and England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to discuss the series earlier this month.

"It will be a historic series," said Amiruddin Ansari, PDCA secretary, at a press conference to announce the three one-day and two Twenty20 match series, for which dates and venues are yet to be decided.

"We want to spread the message that physical handicaps should not be an impediment in life."

Disabled cricket was launched in Pakistan in 2007 and received a great boost when the Pakistan Cricket Board recognised the sport, allowing players to undertake official tours of Malaysia and Singapore last year.

"England is anxious to have this series as soon as possible as Martin has done a lot of work on disabled cricket and has also tried to gather teams from Australia, New Zealand and India," said Ansari.

"Disabled cricket will flourish once it comes under the ICC umbrella and comes in the Future Tours Programme through which all countries will play disabled cricket on regular basis."

Former Pakistan captain and national coach of Afghanistan Rashid Latif said he is ready to support disabled cricket.

"I am amazed to see their talent as some of the players who do not have one hand or one leg play cricket like able players do," said Latif, who agreed to be ambassador for Pakistan disabled cricket.

Latif said he has undertaken a research programme to help disabled cricketers improve their skills.

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