ECB’s Head of Disability Cricket Ian Martin is visiting Dhaka this week to advise Bangladeshi cricket administrators and coaches on a major new initiative which will include the creation of the country’s first ever national physical disability squad.
Mr Martin, who will be joined by the England Physical Disability team’s Head Coach Qasim Ali, has been invited by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to deliver a Disability Awareness in Cricket training programme for around 40 Bangladeshi cricket coaches.
The week-long trip, which is being supported by the British High Commission, is part of a joint BCB and ICRC plan to engage more closely with the disabled community in Bangladesh and launch a new national squad for physical disability cricketers.
The training programme will be attended by senior figures from the Bangladeshi cricketing community including the President of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, Mr Nazmul Hasan and Mr HT Iman, the Chief Political Advisor to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh.
Ian Martin said: “We’re delighted that the Bangladesh Cricket Board and the ICRC were so keen to draw on our expertise in promoting disability cricket and we look forward to contributing to their own plans to widen opportunities for physically disabled cricketers in Dhaka.
“Bangladesh is rightly renowned as a cricketing hotbed and there is huge potential for growth in disability cricket in the country. We’re fully supportive of the BCB’s plans and we trust their initiative will encourage more cricket-loving nations to develop their own disability cricket programmes and national squads.”
Kazi Inam Ahmed, Chairman of the BCB’s Marketing and Commercial Committee, added: “Cricket is an integral part of Bangladeshi society and is a shining symbol of unity and pride. Therefore, physical or mental disability should never act as a barrier for pursuing the cricketing dream.”