The England and Wales Cricket Board's (ECB) Disability Premier League returns for its third edition this summer, bigger than ever.
The final of the competition will take place at Sophia Gardens for the first time, preceding England Men's second T20I against Australia on September 13, 2024. The final will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
The Disability Premier League (DPL) is a unique tournament that includes players from three different impairment groups: Physical Disability (PD), Learning Disability (LD), and Deaf. These players may all be part of the same starting 11.
The Black Cats, Hawks, Pirates, and The Tridents will compete for a spot in the final over 12 matches from August 25 to September 8. The DPL Draft took place on Tuesday, where the teams selected their squads for the summer.
Each team was allowed to keep six players from the previous year, leaving 10 spots available to fill for the upcoming Draft.
The talent pool is brimming with stars such as Callum Flynn, the captain of England PD, and Alfie Pyles, the Disability Player of the Year 2023, both of whom were picked up by the Hawks this summer.
Dan Hamm, who recently retired from international cricket after a 14-year career in an England shirt, is another favourite from across the disability game. Hamm will return to the field with the Black Cats.
The competition also features fresh faces who have risen through the ranks in the domestic game, some of whom have the ability to take the limelight. The excitement comes from the unknown element they bring.