ECB Head of Disability Cricket Ian Martin is delighted with the exposure gained by live YouTube streaming during this week’s Twenty 20 series against Pakistan.
The three-match rubber was nip-and-tuck throughout, with England Physical Disability ultimately coming up short by 11 runs in a dramatic decider yesterday.
All the action was available to watch live via the ECB’s YouTube channel and Martin believes the move was unquestionably a great success.
“Whilst from an English perspective it is disappointing to lose the Twenty20 International series, the standard of the cricket has been high.
“The live streaming of the series has taken the game to a much wider global audience and I am very satisfied that what the new audience has witnessed will inspire more physically disabled people to take up the sport.
“With the Twenty20 International series completed we must now focus on the upcoming one-day international series.
“I hope we can put the disappointment of losing the Twenty20 series behind us and take heart from the positive cricket we played. We feel that we are more suited to the longer format and look forward to the matches ahead.”
The 40-over per-side leg of England’s tour gets under way at the ICC Academy at Dubai Sports City tomorrow (Monday, March 24).
Games two and three take place at the same venue on March 27 and March 29. Entry is free.
The first two matches are day-night encounters, starting at 3.30pm local time, and Saturday’s final game begins at 10.30am.
Complete replays of all the T20I matches are available at the ECB’s YouTube channel.