The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), the governing body for cricket in England and Wales, is planning to run a series of regional consultation workshops, including one at Birmingham’s Edgbaston Stadium on 16th July from 12pm-2.30pm, to help improve its understanding and levels of engagement with South Asian cricket fans across the country.
The ECB wants to ensure that cricket is a game for everyone; full of great experiences whether people play, watch, follow, or work in the game.
To help with this, the ECB wants to hear feedback, ideas and thoughts on how cricket can do this for Birmingham’s South Asian communities. They want to hear from people from Afghani, Bangladeshi, Indian, Nepalese, Pakistani, or Sri Lankan communities.
Whether you are involved in cricket or not; you could be a community leader, regular player, volunteer, coach, school teacher, an armchair fan or a parent of a cricket mad child – everyone is welcome to attend.
As well as Birmimgham, the workshops will take place in seven other regional venues in Bradford, Dewsbury, East and West London, Leicester, Manchester and Sheffield. They are designed to encourage local communities to share their thoughts, ideas and experiences on playing, attending or following the game.
People interested in attending can register by visiting ecb.co.uk/southasiancricket or emailing rsvp@ecb.co.uk.
Lord Patel of Bradford OBE, independent director at the ECB, said: “We know that there is an incredible passion for the game within South Asian communities nationwide. Cricket is in their DNA and we want them to help shape our future plans for the game.
Today we are only scratching the surface of the potential engagement with cricket from the UK’s South Asian communities. This is a huge opportunity to grow the game and we want to hear from people in South Asian communities who play or follow cricket, but also from those who don’t. Get involved, tell us what you think and contribute to deliver a change and help make cricket a better experience for all.”
Taking place at Birmingham’s Edgbaston Stadium on Sunday 16th July, the workshops will take place throughout July and August, and will not only offer guests an opportunity to have their voices heard, but also give them the chance to get a taste for the sport both at a local level through tickets to local NatWest T20 Blast matches as well as being entered into a draw to win four VIP tickets to England vs India or England vs Pakistan in 2018.
Those attending the Birmingham event will get free tickets to watch the Birmingham Bears v Leicester Foxes T20 Blast match at 2.30pm – straight after the workshop.
Thursday 13th July 6-8.30pm The Kia Oval Cricket Ground, London
Sunday 16th July 12-2.30pm Edgbaston Stadium, Birmingham
Monday 17th July 7-9.30pm Dewsbury Town Hall, Dewsbury
Tuesday 18th July 7-9.30pm Carlisle Business Centre, Bradford
Wednesday 19th July 6-8.30pm Fischer County Ground, Leicester
Thursday 20th July 6-8.30pm Old Trafford Cricket Ground, Manchester
Tuesday 25th July 7-9.30pm Jack Carter Pavilion, Ilford
Wednesday 23rd August TBC Sheffield – location TBC
This is your chance to make your voice heard, and ECB are looking for your support.
