Canvas For Care at the Festival of Disability Cricket

On Wednesday 19 August 2026, Lord’s Cricket Ground will host the Festival of Disability Cricket, with India and England meeting in an international disability cricket match. The programme begins at 13:00 and brings disability cricket to one of the most recognised stages in world sport.

Canvas For Care will form a special part of the occasion, presenting selected artworks created by children aged approximately 4–16, including children with disabilities, to players and representatives from both teams. The artworks carry personal messages of care, encouragement and inclusion, connecting children’s creativity with the determination, skill and competitive spirit represented on the cricket field.

The programme has been brought together with the involvement and leadership of Kamal Prabhakar, Founder of KP Smart Sports, a member of UKABC’s Advisory Panel and Global Ambassador for Canvas For Care.

Through his relationships across cricket, sport and media, Kamal has played a central role in coordinating the different elements of the occasion and helping create a platform where disability cricket is presented with the profile and seriousness it deserves. Kamal has also been appointed by the Differently Abled Cricket Council of India (DCCI) as Global Director – Disability Cricket Development & Inclusion.

His international remit includes the development, promotion, inclusion and expansion of Physical Disability Cricket, Deaf Cricket, Learning Disability Cricket, Wheelchair Cricket and Mixed Disability Cricket, together with international partnerships, player pathways, programmes and opportunities for differently abled cricketers in India and across global platforms.

His DCCI role and his position as Global Ambassador for Canvas For Care create a strong link between the sporting and social purpose of the day: increasing visibility and opportunity for disability cricket while using art and community participation to reinforce a wider message of inclusion. Kamal Prabhakar said: “This is about giving disability cricket the international stage and recognition it deserves.

Bringing India and England together at Lord’s is significant in itself, and connecting the players with artwork created by children through Canvas For Care makes the occasion even more meaningful.

Sport and creativity can both change how people see ability, opportunity and inclusion.” Andrew Grocock, Chairman of UKABC, will take a lead role for UKABC and Canvas For Care on the day, welcoming participants and helping connect the sporting, institutional and community elements of the programme. Andrew said: “Lord’s is an extraordinary setting for an occasion with such a strong message.

I am looking forward to helping lead UKABC’s participation on the day and, most importantly, to recognising the players, the children behind the artwork and everyone working to broaden opportunity through disability cricket.” Taha Coburn-Kutay, President of UKABC, will be unable to attend in person but has been closely supportive of the programme.

Taha said: “I am genuinely excited to see this come together and disappointed to be missing it in person.

An India–England disability cricket occasion at Lord’s, combined with the message of Canvas For Care, represents exactly the kind of international, inclusive connection we want UKABC to help create.” Sudeep Sakalle, Vice President of UKABC, has been closely involved in bringing together the Canvas For Care, communications, partner and event elements around the programme.

Sudeep said: “A lot of work behind an event like this is about making sure the right people, organisations and messages come together properly. The cricket must remain at the centre, while Canvas For Care adds something personal — children sharing their creativity and messages directly with people representing India and England on an international stage.” For Canvas For Care, the day is about more than displaying artwork.

Selected pieces will be shared directly with players and representatives from the teams, allowing the messages behind the canvases to become part of an international sporting occasion. It reflects the initiative’s wider belief that care can connect people across age, background, ability, culture and geography.

The Festival brings together the Differently Abled Cricket Council of India, England cricket, Canvas For Care, Creative Art Campus and UKABC around a day centred on international competition, recognition and inclusion. The cricket itself remains at the heart of the occasion, with the wider programme helping give disability sport the visibility it merits.

For UKABC, the event demonstrates how sport can create relationships that extend beyond the boundary. Bringing together cricket, creativity and community at Lord’s gives partners and guests an opportunity to recognise sporting achievement while supporting a wider message of inclusion and opportunity.

“This is about giving disability cricket the international stage and recognition it deserves.”

— Kamal Prabhakar, Global Director – Disability Cricket Development & Inclusion, DCCI · Global Ambassador, Canvas For Care