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England Men's Mixed Disability team to play India in Bristol

5 March 2025

England Men’s Mixes Disability team will play the final two fixtures of a pioneering seven-match series against India at the Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol, with visits to three other First-Class grounds among the tour itinerary.

India will come to England in late June to compete in a trailblazing Vitality IT20 Mixed Disability series—the first of its kind at international level in cricket. The series will combine the Physical Disability, Learning Disability, and Hearing Impaired formats to mirror England’s domestic Disability Premier League format.

The team starts the series at Taunton before a game at Wormsley, then Lord’s – which falls on the MCC’s Disability Cricket Day on Wednesday 25 June. Two matches at Worcester then follow before the series concludes in Bristol.

The first match at the Seat Unique Stadium – at 2pm on Tuesday 01 July – will be a double-header with England Women’s fixture versus India Women, screened live on Sky Sports.

The seventh and final IT20 starts at 6:30pm on Tuesday 03 July at the Seat Unique Stadium.

All seven games will be live-streamed on ECB channels.

• Saturday 21 June: 1st Mixed Disability Vitality IT20: England Men’s Pan-Disability v India Men’s Pan-Disability, Taunton, 6.30pm
• Monday 23 June: 2nd Mixed Disability Vitality IT20: England Men’s Pan-Disability v India Men’s Pan-Disability, Wormsley, 5pm
• Wednesday 25 June: 3rd Mixed Disability Vitality IT20: England Men’s Pan-Disability v India Men’s Pan-Disability, Lord's, 3.30pm
• Friday 27 June: 4th Mixed Disability Vitality IT20:  England Men’s Pan-Disability v India Men’s Pan-Disability, Worcester, 5pm
• Sunday 29 June: 5th Mixed Disability Vitality IT20:  England Men’s Pan-Disability v India Men’s Pan-Disability, Worcester, 2.30pm
• Thursday 1 July: 6th Mixed Disability Vitality IT20:  England Men’s Pan-Disability v India Men’s Pan-Disability, Bristol, 2pm
• Tuesday 3 July: 7th Mixed Disability Vitality IT20:  England Men’s Pan-Disability v India Men’s Pan-Disability, Bristol, 6.30pm

The format – pioneered by the Disability Premier League here in the UK – sees a team of mixed impairment players playing together, with players from the Learning Disability, Physical Disability and Deaf squads forming each team’s XI.

Disability cricket at international level has traditionally been played in separate impairment disciplines, but this series would trial the pan-disability model at the highest level.

Should the trial be successful, countries would be able to focus their resources on two formats – Pan-Disability and Blind Cricket – encouraging greater participation and higher standards.

Interim Chief Executive at Gloucestershire Cricket Neil Priscott, said:

"It’s incredibly exciting to be hosting the final two matches of this series at the Seat Unique Stadium. The introduction of the Mixed Disability Vitality IT20 series is a landmark moment for the sport, and we’re proud to play our part in showcasing the remarkable skill and dedication of these players on the international stage.

"With the first of our two fixtures forming part of a double-header alongside England Women versus India Women, it promises to be a memorable occasion.

"This announcement guarantees we’ll see such a huge variety of cricket at the Seat Unique Stadium this summer, reflecting the inclusivity and diversity that makes our sport so special."

Head of Disability Cricket at the ECB Ian Martin, said: 

“We always say with Disability Cricket, you only need to see it to immediately understand how good the cricket is and how entertaining it is. We haven’t played mixed disability cricket at international level before but we know from the DPL that this format brings together the best of the best, and I just can’t wait for people to see it and be blown away.

“It’s great that the final Vitality IT20 will be on Sky, as well as the live-streaming on ECB channels. The more people who we can bring to this series, and this format of cricket, the better.”

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