Youth cricket clubs and South Asian community join hands to host friendly match in Bradford to foster unity and inclusivity

Amidst the recent unrest across the UK, the Platform for Indian Democracy, a leading British Indian community group, and Roshni UK, which empowers communities through art, sport and cultural initiatives, orchestrated a friendly cricket match and cultural event in Bradford. This event, celebrating South Asian heritage, was a testament to the power of unity, teamwork, and community. Over 80 individuals, including community leaders and young cricketers, came together, fostering a sense of togetherness and shared purpose.

Players from King Cross Junior Cricket Club U15 and Batley Cricket Club U15 came together at the Bradford Park Avenue Cricket Ground in West Yorkshire to showcase their skills and the spirit of camaraderie that defines these communities.

Raul Lai, lead organiser at the Platform for Indian Democracy, shared his thoughts on the event, saying, “This match was more than just a game. Talented young players demonstrated the values of teamwork, respect, and integrity as they battled against the rain at Park Avenue in Bradford. This was a celebration of our diverse communities, a stark contrast to the recent riots. Both teams, through their love for cricket, showed us the best of our cultures. Cricket, as a bridge between cultures, reminded us of the strength in diversity and the shared values that bind our communities together.”

Imran Dawood, Director of Roshni UK, said, “In the recent under-15 cricket match between Batley Cricket Club and King Cross Cricket Club, teamwork and sportsmanship were the real highlights. Whether checking on an injured opponent or celebrating each other’s successes, both teams embodied the true spirit of cricket. This match was a perfect reminder that cricket is not just about winning, but about playing together with respect and integrity.”

John Strawson-Rooney, Volunteer Programme Lead at Bradford 2025, an organisation committed to promoting positive change through community events which supported the friendly, said, “Bradford 2025 was delighted to support the event. We are committed to supporting community events that unite people and promote positive change through teamwork and inclusion. We want Bradford 2025 to have a positive, long-lasting legacy and supporting these grassroots events is vital to achieving that goal.”

Mohammed Safraz, Batley Cricket Club coach, said, “It has been great to get together two young teams, from mostly South Asian communities, to play a competitive cricket match at the historic Bradford Park Avenue.
It’s important to have more young people get together to work together and interact with others in the community. The event was especially important when considering the Platform’s cause, which brought us all together—championing inclusivity and diversity.”

This cricket match was seen as a step towards building more robust, inclusive communities that stand united against misinformation and division.

port and materials for anyone who wants to get into cricket, or return to the sport, with information on clubs and community projects close to your home, materials for schools, or simply ideas on how you can play in the back garden or street.  

Former England Men’s international player Jimmy Anderson said: “Like every other kid in the country, I started playing at home by picking up a bat and a ball and giving it a go. 

I was lucky that my dad played and I went to watch him at the local club but now there are way more opportunities to give cricket a try, whether that is at school, or at home or out with your mates. I’d encourage any young boy or girl to give it a try and you never know where it can lead.” 

England Women’s Captain Heather Knight said: “I loved playing cricket with my brother when I was a kid, and now I love playing with his daughter in the back garden. I’m also fortunate that being a cricketer now also gives me the chance to have fun, with my friends, out in a field all day, and I’d love more young girls in future to be able to experience the joy that brings.”

England Men’s Test Captain Ben Stokes recently visited Hawthorn Primary School in Newcastle upon Tyne, to take part in a PE session with the children. 

At that visit, Ben said: “When kids are at a young age, there are completely different levels of skills amongst them all, but that isn’t something we look for, we look for the smiles and the enjoyment they get out of the cricket session. 

I can tell you that every kid out there today has been smiling constantly, which has been great to see. We need to make cricket more accessible, whether that is at home or at school, so that even more kids can love the sport.” 

England Deaf International Joel Harris said: “When I started playing the sport, I never thought I’d end up representing my country all around the world. Cricket has given me that opportunity and now part of my reason for playing is that I want to inspire more people, maybe some people who may not think cricket is for them, to give it a go and see where it takes them.” 

Chief Executive Officer of the ECB, Richard Gould, said; “The beauty of cricket is that it is a lot of different things to a lot of different people. It can be at your local village club, it could be a game of tape ball in a car park, or it could be using a picnic bag for stumps on the beach. The uniting thing about our great sport is that it brings people and communities together and the more children that take up the sport, in whatever way they want to, the better it is for the long-term health of cricket.” 

Ingrid Skeels, Co-Founder of Playing Out said: “Outdoor free play is the foundation to children’s physical activity, physical literacy and the doorway to informal sport. Safe spaces to play out have increasingly been lost in communities, due to traffic volume and speed, public land being sold or developed and a growing ‘No Ball Games’ culture. 

Children from the most disadvantaged areas are most impacted by this, as other alternatives – paid-for, organised activities further from home – are less accessible to them. If we want all children to be healthy and discover the joys of cricket and other sport, we need to make it safer for children to play together close to home and easily access parks and other spaces.”