Story perspectives

ECB Faces Backlash Over Non-Disabled Players in Disability League

4/1/2026

Summary

Story summary

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) faces criticism for including non-disabled players in its Disability Premier League (DPL), which undermines its intended purpose.
Parents of players with learning disabilities, such as Jai Charan and Alex Jervis, argue that non-disabled players take spots meant for those with qualifying disabilities.
Team manager Owen Jervis reports that many players with learning disabilities feel sidelined and discouraged.
The ECB is reviewing the eligibility criteria amid ongoing concerns about the DPL's impact on players with disabilities.
The DPL, designed as a pathway to the England Mixed Disability team, is perceived as favoring a select few.

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Story summary

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) faces criticism for including non-disabled players in its Disability Premier League (DPL), which undermines its intended purpose.
Parents of players with learning disabilities, such as Jai Charan and Alex Jervis, argue that non-disabled players take spots meant for those with qualifying disabilities.
Team manager Owen Jervis reports that many players with learning disabilities feel sidelined and discouraged.
The ECB is reviewing the eligibility criteria amid ongoing concerns about the DPL's impact on players with disabilities.
The DPL, designed as a pathway to the England Mixed Disability team, is perceived as favoring a select few.