England\'s Disability Cricket chief satisfied with India\'s preparations for World Cup

Toronto: Ian Martin, the ECB official has expressed his satisfaction over the preparations by India's physically challenged cricketers to play the forthcoming World Cup scheduled to be played in England in August this year.

Ian Martin, who is himself a physically challenged and has been working in this area for the last 20 years. He last week visited India after initially being denied visa last month.

Speaking exclusively over telephone from England, where he returned recently, he said, "the purpose of my visit to India was to meet with officials of AICAPC (ALL India Cricket Association for the Physically Challenged). I was invited to attend a selection camp in Hubli organised by the Association where they had invited 104 of the best physically challenged cricketers from across India to compete in matches:

The independently appointed 5 man selection committee will then meet to select a squad of players to attend the Physical Disability World Series taking place in England in August".

During his visit to Mumbai and Hubli, Martin also met India's former fast bowler Umesh Kulkurni, who is a chairman of selectors for the physically challenged cricketers.

"I was hosted by Mr Ashok Wadekar, brother of former India Captain Ajit Wadekar and Mr Suresh Iyer of AICAPC".

Martin had joined ECB in 2007 and he is the ECB’s Head of Disability Cricket.