Countdown to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 starts in Trafalgar Square - New Asian Post

Countdown to the ICC Cricket
World Cup 2019 starts in
Trafalgar Square
Nelson’s Column was transformed into a giant set of wickets as
cricket took over London’s Trafalgar Square on 21st February
2019 to mark 100 days until the start of the tournament. An
array of high-profile figures from the world of sport,
governance, culture and entertainment – including Minister for
Sport Mims Davies, Sir Alastair Cook, James Anderson OBE,
Graeme Swann, Nasser Hussain OBE, Isa Guha, Rebecca Adlington
OBE, Noreen Khan and two-time ICC Cricket World Cup winner
Clive Lloyd CBE – were in attendance with celebrity fans Harry
Judd and Chris Hughes as the 100-day Trophy Tour of England
and Wales got underway.

The unique celebration of cricket’s fifty over World Cup
highlighted the once-in-a-generation chance for cricket fans
in England and Wales to see the world’s greatest players in
action on home soil this summer.

On July 14th, the winning captain will lift the coveted
trophy, but first, fans across the country will get the chance
to see it first hand as part of the Trophy Tour. The tour
began its 100-day journey of the country today transported in
the 100% electric Nissan LEAF – Europe’s top-selling electric
vehicle (EV)*- making this tour the first ICC Trophy Tour
powered by an all-electric vehicle.

The Trophy Tour will comprise of over 100 events across 115
locations to ensure all fans get the opportunity to ‘get up
close and personal’ with the trophy. In addition, the ICC
Men’s Cricket World Cup will make three extra special stops,
as members of the public are given the chance to nominate
deserving friends and family to receive a personal visit from

the trophy. More information on how to get involved can be
found here.

ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 Managing Director, Steve
Elworthy, said: “The tournament is within touching distance
now and it’s amazing to see the takeover of the iconic London
location of Trafalgar Square to mark 100 days to go. This
really puts the tournament at the front of mind for the fans
here and around the world.

“This ambitious launch demonstrates the lengths we will go to
in making this tournament the most memorable ever – one that
will inspire excitement among players and spectators alike
around the world.

ICC Chief Executive David Richardson, added: “Years of
planning goes into the delivery of an ICC Mens Cricket World
Cup, but the excitement becomes real with 100 days to go and
the arrival of the trophy on the shores of England and Wales.

“Transforming one of London’s most famous landmarks into giant
wickets is a wonderful way to kick start the celebrations for
what I know will be the greatest ever celebration of cricket
for hundreds of millions of fans around the world.”

The Trophy Tour will be visiting every CWC19 Host City,
including free to attend ‘Super Saturday’ events in Manchester
(23 March), Birmingham (20 April) and Bristol (4 May), which
will combine music, celebrity special guests, entertainment
and a street cricket tournament involving local businesses,
fan groups and the public.

Former England spinner Graeme Swann was named as the Official
Trophy Tour Ambassador, when talking about the 100-day tour
Swann said: “I am proud to be part of a Trophy Tour that
promises to deliver a glimpse of cricket’s biggest prize to
fans up and down the country and really build the excitement
and expectation for the tournament.

“This summer promises to be hugely exciting for cricket here
in England and Wales and around the world. The World Cup is at
the absolute heart of the action and it all starts now with
the Trophy Tour!””

ABOUT THE ICC MEN’S CRICKET WORLD CUP 2019
The tournament will run from 30 May to 14 July. The semi-
finals will be played at Old Trafford in Manchester and
Edgbaston in Birmingham on 9 and 11 July respectively, while
Lord’s will host the final on 14 July.

11 venues across England and Wales will be used, namely
Cardiff Wales Stadium in Cardiff (four matches), Bristol
County Ground in Bristol (three matches), County Ground
Taunton in Taunton (three matches), Edgbaston in Birmingham
(five matches, including the second semi-final), Hampshire
Bowl in Southampton (five matches), Headingley in Leeds (four
matches), Lord’s in London (five matches, including the
final), Old Trafford in Manchester (six matches, including the
first semi-final), The Oval in London (five matches, including
the tournament opener), The Riverside Durham in Chester-le-
Street (three matches) and Trent Bridge in Nottingham (five
matches)

The 10 teams in the tournament will play against each other in
a single-league format, with the top four sides after 45
matches to qualify for the two semi-finals

England and Wales have previously staged ICC Cricket World
Cups in 1975, 1979, 1983 and 1999

Australia is the most successful team in the history of the
World Cup, having won events in 1987, 1999, 2003, 2007 and
2015. The West Indies won the first two editions in 1975 and
1979, while India won in 1983 and 2011. Other winners are
Pakistan in 1992 and Sri Lanka in 1996

* Based on Nissan LEAFs sold in Europe up to end of December
2018.

ECB to recruit 2,000 South
Asian female cricket mentors
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) today (20th November
2018) announced £1.2million of funding to develop a network of
2,000 South Asian female cricketing role models. The grant
from the National Lottery awarded by Sport England, will be
used to retain, develop and expand cricket’s female volunteer
network. The new volunteer ‘activators’ will combine coaching
and mentoring to inspire and support the next generation of
cricketers. They will support the delivery of All Stars
Cricket, ECB’s entry-level-cricket programme for 5 – 8 year
olds, in seven cities and act as role models, showing young
people the positive part that cricket can play in their lives.

The ambition to expand the female coaching network was one of
the 11 key measures outlined in the ECB’s South Asian Action
Plan, launched in May to transform the way cricket engages
with British South Asian communities. 30% of people surveyed
during the consultation process for the plan said that more
female coaches would encourage more South Asian women and
girls to play the game.

The funding was celebrated at a special community event in
Leicester today, with former champion England off spinner
Graeme Swann, his Strictly partner Oti Mabuse, former England
cricketer Isa Guha and local school children from Coleman
Primary School and Al Aqsa School all taking part in an All

Stars Cricket session hosted by Leicestershire Community
Engagement Officer, Amna Rafiq.

The Strictly stars joined women from around Leicester in a
women’s cricket and Bollywood dance session, a fun-filled, 90-
minute fitness session which combines cricket Bollywood dance
routines with cricketing skills.

Leicester County Cricket Club Community Engagement Officer,
Amna Rafiq commented:

“For me, growing up and getting into cricket, it wasn’t just
about enjoying playing the game – which was important, it was
the fact that I wanted to see women who looked like me and
understood my heritage. I was fortunate that the mentors I had
around me all understood my background and knew how to help
develop my self-confidence and social skills.

“As a result of my own experiences, I’m incredibly passionate
about this Action Plan and I know it’s already making a
difference to the girls and young women that are involved in
the programmes that I help run in Leicester. I’m working hard
to ensure that I carry on the same style of mentoring for all
the girls I’m working with. It’s all about encouraging them to
get active, learn different skills and make new friends in a
supportive and fun environment.”

The new volunteers will work in seven cities (Birmingham,
Bradford, London, Leeds, Leicester Manchester and Nottingham)
with a high South Asian population.

About the ECB South Asian Action Plan
Additional progress on the South Asian Action Plan includes:

     Leyton Cricket Club in East London being chosen as the
     first pilot venue for the new Urban Cricket Centres,
     purpose-built sites specifically designed to provide
     cricket in urban areas

The installation of 58 non-turf pitches and renovation
     of 14 turf pitches in 2018 in Core Cities
     The ECB T20 City Cup has expanded to reach 16 cities

ECB Non-Executive Director, Lord Kamlesh Patel said: “When we
launched the Action Plan six months ago, we knew that there
was a lot of hard work to be done and that a lot of people
within the British South Asian community were counting on us
to deliver on our promises.

“I’m pleased to say that in a relatively short space of time,
progress has been made in a range of different areas including
identifying our first Urban Cricket Centre and commissioning
and installing 58 non-turf pitches. Today’s announcement of
funding from Sport England shows that we are in a great
position to deliver on another element of our plan.

He continued:

“Of course there is still much to be done, however, by working
closely with our key partners such as Sport England,
SpringBoard, the British Asian Trust and the National Asian
Cricket Council, we’re confident we will be able to ensure
that cricket remains diverse and welcoming for all sections of
the community.”

Former England Women’s cricketer Isa Guha said:

“Coming up through the ranks of cricket as a woman of South
Asian heritage, I’m acutely aware of the importance of
attracting young girls from a diverse range of backgrounds to
play our great game.

“Not only do we need to create new ways of interacting with
these girls, such as the local Bolly Cric-Hit programme that’s
been so successful in Leicester, we also need to invest in
attracting women into coaching and facilitator roles to help
train and nurture the next generation of stars. This funding
from Sport England will go a long way towards helping us

achieve this goal.”

The announcement is joint investment between Sport England
awarding National Lottery funding and ECB. Sport England have
awarded a £1.2million of National Lottery funding, which the
ECB will match by investing £1.2million in the second stage
(years 3 & 4) to help ensure the long-term success of the
project in inspiring a new generation of British South Asian
volunteers, players and fans.

About Sport England
Sport England is a public body and invests up to £300 million
National Lottery and government money each year in projects
and programmes that help people get active and play sport.

It wants everyone in England, regardless of age, background,
or level of ability, to feel able to engage in sport and
physical activity. That’s why a lot of its work is
specifically focused on helping people who do no, or very
little, physical activity and groups who are typically less
active – like women, disabled people and people on lower
incomes.

The Springboard Charity
The purpose of the Springboard Charity is:

     The advancement in life and education of young people
     under the age of 25 by the provision of advice, training
     and skills courses.
     To relieve unemployment for public benefit in such ways
     as may be thought fit, including the provision of
     assistance to unemployed people seeking employment in
     hospitality, leisure and tourism.
     The relief of poverty caused by disability, social or
     economic circumstances, by the provision of advice,
     training skills courses and support.

The British Asian Trust
The British Asian Trust was founded in 2007 by His Royal
Highness The Prince of Wales and leading British Asian
entrepreneurs and business leaders to tackle widespread
poverty and hardship in South Asia.

We want to see a South Asia that maximises the potential of
its people, and that is free from inequality and injustice.

Since we began, our programmes have had a positive impact on
the lives of more than 4 million people. Business principles
run through our DNA – in the way we run the organisation, the
way in which we partner with the private sector to bring about
change through our programmes and the way in which we engage
with innovative finance and impact investing.

National Asian Cricket Council (NACC)
The National Asian Cricket Council has been established to
support and promote the interests of the South Asian
Cricketing Community at National and Regional levels, whilst
building open relationships between key stakeholders such as
the England and Wales Cricket Board, County Boards and their
immediate cricketing communities.

The purpose of the National Asian Cricket Council is two-fold,
firstly we would become the voice of the South Asian
Cricketing Communities across the Country and secondly, we
will challenge the South Asian Cricketing Communities on the
contribution they are making to mainstream cricket. At the
same time it is important to note that the South Asian
Cricketing Community is a very significant part of the
cricketing family in this country, with official statistics
confirming, anything between 30-40% of all recreational
cricket in the UK is played by them

If you’re interested in finding out more or applying for one
of the new roles, please visit ecb.co.uk. If you are

interested in getting involved in volunteering in your
community or to find out more about the Action Plan, please
visit ecb.co.uk/south-asian-action-plan

British Asians in                           Sport &
Physical Activity                           (BASPA)
Summit 2018
The inaugural British Asians in Sport and Physical Activity
(BASPA) Summit takes place on Friday 23rd November 2018 at
Edgbaston Cricket Stadium, Birmingham. Sporting Equals, the
UK’s leading race equality charity across sport have conducted
research that shows there were only 7 British Asians out of
630 (1%) ‘Team GB’ athletes at the Rio Olympics or Paralympics
in 2016.

In 2022, Birmingham, with one of the most highly populated
cities of South Asian communities (ver 22%), will host the
Commonwealth Games. With only a few years to go, it’s unlikely
that South Asian representation will be significantly
different to Rio and another generation will have missed its
opportunity to play a significant part in British sport.

South Asian communities are the least active of
all ethnic groups
Delegates including practitioners, academics, and senior
members of UK Sport, Sport England, UK Coaching and a range of
governing bodies of sport will learn that South Asian
communities are the least active of all ethnic groups. Only 1%
of qualified coaches are non-white and 97% of the professional
sporting workforce is white. These low numbers culminate with

hardly any British Asians playing sport at a national level.

With such racial disparity across this field, Sporting Equals
– a national charity which works to create solutions for
inequality in sport, has organised the first ever British
Asians in Sport and Physical Activity (BASPA) Summit on Friday
23rd November 2018 at Edgbaston Stadium.

The summit has received backing from the England and Wales
Cricket Board (ECB) and Sport England, who also recognise the
urgent need to take action and lead change ahead of Birmingham
2022. Preet Gill MP for Edgbaston will be delivering the
keynote address and the event will host a wide range of
professionals and executives from the British sporting
community.

Arun Kang, CEO Sporting Equals, commenting on the event said,
“I am delighted that Sporting Equals will be hosting the first
ever British Asians in Sport and Physical Activity Summit,
it’s long overdue and the sport sector and British Asian
communities need to relish this challenge and work
collaboratively to ensure that sport represents the UK
population. The Commonwealth Games 2022 provides another
platform to inspire the sporting skills, experience and talent
of British Asians throughout the country.”

Kang continues “British Asian communities are still invisible
in professional sport, in fact, in all areas of sport from
qualified coaches to senior management. At the Summit we will
explore some of the key issues on the challenges facing
British Asians in elite sport. We will share our latest
research and insights, create debate and discussion and
identify solutions to tackle under representation in elite
level sport, the professional workforce and inactivity.”

“I would like to thank the ECB and Sport England for their
wholehearted support to this agenda and being partners to the
inaugural British Asians in Sport and Physical Activity

(BASPA) Summit.”

The inaugural British Asians in Sport and Physical Activity
(BASPA) Summit takes place on Friday 23rd November 2018 at
Edgbaston Cricket Stadium, Birmingham.

For         further          information                visit
http://www.sportingequals.org.uk/

Footballer Kashif Siddiqi
launches #FootballSavesLives
campaign
An International sports charity Football for Peace (FfP), co-
founded by British Footballer Kashif Siddiqi and Chilean FIFA
Legend Elia Figueroa, launched its #FootballSavesLives
campaign. FfP aim to train the next generation of young
leaders in how to harness a shared passion for football to
bring together their local communities.

FfP will launch the #FootballSavesLives initiative, which
pledges to train 500 Young Peace Leaders by 2020, at FfP’s
Peace Tournament, to be held on the 22nd November 2018 at the
Copper Box Arena. The peace tournament will bring together
footballing ambassadors Wilfried Zaha, Mesut Ozil, Louis Saha,
John Terry, Bacary Sagna, Lucas Perez and newly trained Young
Peace Leaders who have already been through this programme to
manage the teams branded as Equality, Diversity, Unity,
Friendship, Dialogue from different schools across Newham.

The event will honour the Young Peace Leaders that have
graduated from the City for Peace initiative this year from

across the UK. Through this programme, FfP works in
conjunction with local councils, football clubs and schools to
train young people aged 15-18 in how to unite their
communities on and off the pitch, from running local football
tournaments to organising classroom workshops to discuss the
issues currently dividing their communities.

On the day, The Duke will attend a workshop on tolerance and
team building, which will be delivered by FfP tutors and
attended by Young Peace Leaders. His Royal Highness will then
meet the charities Footballing Ambassadors and students who
will all then take part in an activity which will break down a
wall with footballs in a message against hate and violence to
support the #FootballSavesLives campaign.

“With the #FootballSavesLives campaign, we want to encourage
all football lovers and peace defenders to support our pledge
to train the next generation of Young Peace Leaders to create
more peaceful and tolerant communities across the UK. These
schools in normal instance, hardly mix let alone play on same
teams, the country needs more integration activities“, says
FfP co-founder Kashif Siddiqi.

Adding to this, Arsenal player Mesut Ozil said “I am proud to
support an initiative which brings people together in the such
divided times we are living in“.

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About Football for Peace
About Football for Peace: Football for Peace is a grassroots
football movement with diplomatic impact, championing the
power of the beautiful game to bring people of different
ethnic and cultural backgrounds together on the pitch, while
fostering understanding and tolerance off it. Supported by
international personalities including Ronaldinho and The Duke
of Cambridge, Football for Peace organises Peace Matches, one-
off football matches held annually around the world to raise
awareness of football diplomacy and promote a message of
equality and peace. FfP also provides football and leadership
training for youth from different faiths, cultures and
backgrounds through a local community programme, Cities for
Peace. Futbol Por La Paz (Football for Peace) was established
in 2006 by FIFA and Chilean legend Elias Figueroa and co-
founded Internationally in 2013 by British South Asian
International Footballer, Kashif Siddiqi.

More information on footballforpeaceglobal.org.

ECB announces a plan to focus
on South Asian communities
The England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced a wide-
ranging Action Plan to transform the way it engages with South
Asian communities and draw more players, fans and volunteers
into every level of the game. The Action Plan will launch with
a series of events in three ‘core cities’ including a Chance
to Shine Street Tape-ball competition at Sparkhill Park in
Birmingham, a schools’ cricket competition at Bradford Park
Avenue Cricket Ground in Yorkshire and a women’s and girls’
cricketing session at Leyton County Ground Sport Centre in
East London.

Announcing the long-term approach, Tom Harrison, ECB Chief
Executive Officer said: “Cricket is a force for good in
society and our job is to ensure that it makes a positive
impact on as many people’s lives as possible.

“Whilst we’ve long acknowledged the passion for the game in
South Asian communities in the UK and had the best intentions,
we have never fully understood how to engage with South Asian
communities. This report gives us a road map to change that.

“How can we ensure the level of South Asian participation in
the recreational game, often outside our own programmes, is
reflected throughout cricket? We now have a much deeper
understanding of how cricket can play a part in multi-faith,
multi-lingual, multi-cultural communities, whether that’s
creating a match-day experience which respects everyone’s
customs, renovating derelict council buildings into cricket

centres in urban areas or putting the game’s talent scouts
into more diverse communities.

“Ultimately, we want more people picking up a bat and ball,
the best talent getting opportunities to play at the highest
level and attendances which match the UK’s passion for
cricket. Whilst this Action Plan is about South Asian
communities, in developing it we have learnt a great deal
about how to reach other communities too. Cricket has a
wonderful opportunity to grow and become a sport that is truly
diverse and representative of its broad fan base.”

Lord Patel of Bradford, the ECB Senior Independent Director,
who has driven the development of the Action Plan, added: “As
a British Asian who grew up playing cricket in the streets and
on the pitches of Bradford in the 1960s, I have first-hand
experience of the enormous benefits of our sport. Cricket gave
me the confidence, connections and opportunities to meet new
people outside my community, as well as develop life-long
friendships.

“The passion South Asian communities in the UK have for
cricket remains high but, over 50 years later, there is still
so much untapped potential. This plan will help to change that
– starting today.”

As   part   of   the   ECB’s   ambition   to   make   cricket   more
representative and reflective of modern communities, a South
Asian Advisory Group was put together by Chief Strategy
Officer David Mahoney. The ECB South Asian Advisory Group
comprises Professor The Lord Patel of Bradford KBE, Manoj
Badale, Shirley Cramer CBE, Isa Guha, Anshu Jain, Poppy Jaman
OBE, Ron Kalifa OBE, Wasim Khan MBE, Mark Nicholas, Lucy
Pearson, Shailesh R Solanki and Masroor Siddiqui.

The group looked at the challenges facing South Asian
communities at every level of the game. Within a wealth of
insight, the research revealed that:

South Asian participation in recreational cricket is at
     30%;
     The single biggest barrier to South Asian participation
     is access to facilities in urban areas;
     Other challenges identified included; lack of scouting
     or talent ID in urban areas, the cost of travel and
     equipment for county age group cricketers, a lack of
     female coaches, access to cricket at school and a lack
     of cultural considerations within the match day
     experience;
     3% of domestic, non-international, ticket sales are from
     South Asian audiences compared to 40% in the Champions
     Trophy;
     Cricket is overwhelmingly popular with South Asian
     communities who contribute 18% of the cricketing
     economy.

To develop the plan, the project team, led by Head of Strategy
Vikram Banerjee, conducted the largest ever UK study into
cricket in South Asian communities, analysing tens of
thousands of survey responses and hundreds of thousands of
database records to understand how these diverse groups view
cricket. The plan started by working in collaboration with
University College, London to produce an interactive ‘heat
map’ of all South Asians living and playing cricket in England
and    Wales     on    a    street     by    street     basis
(www.southasianheatmap.ecb.co.uk) to fully understand
demographics, cultures and preferences.

The team then spoke to more than 600 people in a series of
forums across England and Wales in order to get a better
understanding of some of the barriers that are preventing more
South Asians from participating in organised cricket or
engaging more with the governing body. Those consulted
included families, teachers, young people and community
leaders.

Using all of this data and insight, ECB worked with Sport

England to identify ten ‘Core Cities’ where the majority (61%)
of the South Asian population live: Birmingham, Bradford,
Kirklees, Leeds, Leicester, London, Luton, Manchester,
Sandwell and Slough. These ten areas will be the focus of the
first two years of the project. Following this initial period,
the plan will expand to engage with a further 300 districts
that make up the remaining 39% of the audience.

ECB also worked closely with key partners including the
National Asian Cricket Council, the British Asian Trust,
cricket charity Chance to Shine and principal partner NatWest.
These partners will work closely with the ECB to deliver the
report’s recommendations.

The ECB Action Plan has set out 11 recommended actions which
include:

     URBAN CRICKET CENTRES – The creation of 20+ new Urban
     Cricket Centres and the development of 1,000 non-turf
     pitches and 100 turf pitches by 2024;
     COMMUNITY TALENT CHAMPIONS – Piloting the implementation
     of ‘Community Talent Champions’ to scout talent
     previously missed by the scouting system;
     PRIMARY SCHOOLS – The delivery of cricket sessions to
     6,000 primary schools in deprived urban communities
     through Chance to Shine by 2019;
     DIVERSITY IN COACHING – The adoption of the ‘Rooney
     Rule’ to support the progression of BAME coaches working
     in the professional game for all future ECB coaching
     roles; working with the ten ‘core cities’ to train and
     develop 200 female coaches;
     BURSARIES – The awarding of bursaries to talented young
     South Asian players.
     Manoj Badale, Chairman of the British Asian Trust,
     added:

“This plan represents a real step change from the ECB. They
have invested significant time and energy in understanding how

to engage with South Asian communities in the right way. The
British Asian Trust fully supports this plan and is delighted
to be a strategic partner. We are excited about the
opportunities this will create for South Asian communities to
get involved in all levels of the game.”

England international and Worcestershire player Moeen Ali
said: “Growing up in inner-city Birmingham, I fully understand
some of the challenges and barriers for young South Asian
cricketers and I see many of those challenges now when I help
my Dad coach at his cricket academy.

“Many parents are still struggling to afford kit for their
kids and the new bursaries will give emerging players the
opportunity to continue to improve and develop in the game.

“In the next six months, England’s men play against Pakistan,
India and Sri Lanka and as well as hoping to play my part on
the pitch, I’m looking forward to seeing a new generation of
players, fans and coaches coming into the game.”

For more detailed information and to download the action plan
in full, please visit ecb.co.uk/southasiancricket

HSS holds it 8th National
Khel   Pratiyogita (sports
competition)
On the 25 March 2018, HSS UK held its 8th National Khel
Pratiyogita (Sports Competition), one of the largest
gatherings in UK of Hindu girls and women competing in Indian

originated sports. Over 350 girls and women of all ages from
around the UK, came together with great enthusiasm and
determination to support and play sports such as Kho Kho, Ring
and Kabaddi.

The first game played was Kho Kho, where well over 20 teams of
between 9 to 11 participants from as young as 7 years old to
teams comprised of retired women, mothers and women over 35
showed their speed and agility in a game which is believed to
have it roots in ancient India. The second game was Ring where
12 teams participated. The participants were then treated to
interactive demonstrations of kabbadi and the introduction of
the International Kabaddi rules

Samiti has for the last decade quietly been getting on with
organising and promoting all this and much more through their
Khel Pratiyogita. Sevikas (selfless workers) gave time outside
of their usual daily activities and family responsibilities
regularly to ensure fortnightly conference calls, referee
training days, site visits and much more so that all those who
wanted to participate could do so in a safe, competitive and
sisterly atmosphere.

About HSS UK

HSS UK is a charity that runs weekly activities for the whole
family promoting good moral values through sports, leadership
development and community service across its 100+ centers
nationally. Hindu Sevika Samiti, the women’s arm of HSS UK,
celebrated its 40th year of work in the UK in 2015. HSS UK’s
objectives and activities are based on the principles of
Sanskaar (Values of life), Sewa (Selfless Service) and
Sangathan (Community Spirit).

India-England       cricket
relations    explored    in
‘Cricket Connects’
India-England   cricket   relations   explored   in   ‘Cricket
Connects’, a new exhibition that opens in London on 12th June
2017 and tours to Birmingham and Edinburgh. Cricket Connects:
India-England Cricket Relations explores the story of the two
nations through a focus on cricket through the centuries. The
Englishman’s gift to India, cricket has now become a religion
and passion for most Indians, uniting people of different
cultures, languages, religions, castes and creeds infusing a
Nationalistic fervour among all the citizens of the Country.
India now dominates the cricket administration both
politically and economically and every cricket playing country
and player loves to play cricket in India in front of
thousands of cricket crazy spectators.

About Cricket Connects: India – England Cricket
Relations
Cricket Connects: India – England Cricket Relations celebrates
the spirit of cricket, especially the UK-India cricketing
ties, traces the long history of cooperation and competition
between India and England using cricket as a narrative. It
draws on a wide range of research, archival resources, images,
documentary, visuals and audio, to showcase the historic
cricketing relationship between India and England.

The exhibition has been divided into ten sections including
the National Consciousness, The Inaugural Test, Hits and
Misses, The Cricket World Cup and The Almighty Bat: Sachin
Tendulkar, each of which are richly illustrated with archival
photos and information showing the cricketing connections
between India and England. There is also a well researched and

richly illustrated exhibition catalogue to accompany the
exhibition.

A.S. Manekar, Director General National Council of Science
Museums Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India Kolkata said:
“India-UK have a long shared history and the game of cricket
has, for many years, been the lifeblood of the England-India
relationship. It is, therefore, but natural that Cricket had
to be an integral part of the celebration of India-UK year of
Culture (2017). The National Council of Science Museums,
Ministry of Culture, Government of India, is therefore
privileged and honoured to curate and develop the “Cricket
Connects: India-UK” exhibition as a part of the India-UK Year
of Culture.”

Shivaprasad M. Khened, Director, Nehru Science Centre,
National Gallery of Modern Art, Mumbai and Curator of the
Exhibition said: “This exhibition draws on a wide range of
research, archival resources, images, documentary, visuals and
audio, to showcase the historic cricketing relationship
between India and England. The curation of this exhibition has
gone through long hours of research and holding very
interesting interactions with more interesting people who live
the game. We take this opportunity to thank the Ministry of
Culture, Government of India, the Secretary Culture, Mr.
Narendra Kumar Sinha, The Indian High Commission in UK, The
Nehru Centre, ICCR, Prof. Ratnakar Shetty of the BCCI and
several those other institutions and individuals who in a
hundred different ways, made this exhibition possible. We hope
that the exhibition appeals to the audience.”

Cricket, cinema and curry, are three important elements that
commonly appeal to almost all Indians and British. From its
beginnings cricket has always been a unifying connection
between the two nations. What started in 1721 as a means to
avoid boredom by a group of British sailors anchored off the
Gujarat coast in British ruled India has now grown into a
multibillion dollar entertainment industry that helps to

cement both cultural and economic bilateral relations between
India and UK. What was once a sedate pastime for the wealthier
classes in Britain is now a grand gala show in India which
reflects the throbbing hearts of well over a billion Indians.
Cricket has influenced almost every other form of
entertainment from movies and television to books. The passion
for the game transcends all human barriers.

The exhibition will be presented at the Nehru Centre in London
from 12th June to 23rd June 2017, in Birmingham from 1st July
to 7th July 2017 and at The Grange Club in Edinburgh from 15th
July to 23rd July 2017.

The Nehru Centre 8 South Audley Street, Mayfair, London W1K
1HF
The Grange Club, Portgower Place, Edinburgh EH4 1HQ

UK-India Year of Culture
2017 is a year of great significance for the world’s largest
democracy – India, marking 70 years as an independent
democratic republic, standing for its core values of
inclusiveness, peace, and progress. In the past seven decades,
India has travelled through upheaval and transformation with a
spirit that has remained indomitable and forward-looking. It
has seen the steady formation of a variegated, multifaceted
and flavourful cultural matrix created by a formidable past
legacy and a new contemporary identity. Continuous exploration
of the complexities of ancient cultural traditions have
brought India’s classical arts into a modern idiom which is
acclaimed across continents.

2017   has   been   declared   the   UK-India   Year   of   Culture
(India@UK2017) following the joint announcement in 2015 by
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and then-Prime Minister David
Cameron of a bilateral initiative to mark the deep cultural
ties   and the 70th anniversary of India’s Independence; a
commitment that was reiterated during Prime Minister Theresa

May’s visit to India in November 2016.

The Year of Culture is a year-long celebration of partnership
and the long relationship between India and the UK. India and
the UK are bound together through history and shared values of
democracy, rule of law and pluralism. They also share a strong
and multi-faceted partnership across various fields including
economics, business, science, and culture.

India@UK2017
India@UK2017, organised by the Indian High Commission, the
Ministry of Culture, and Indian festival producer Teamwork
Arts, in association with the Shakespeare’s Globe, British
Library, Young Vic, Barbican Centre, Sadler’s Wells, Sampad
Arts Birmingham, Tramway, Festival Theatre Edinburgh mac
Birmingham, Birmingham Hippodrome, and Royal Festival Hall at
Southbank Centre, will present five iconic strands in the UK
to showcase the cultural diversity of India through the year.

These will include: ZEE JLF @ British Library, India @
Edinburgh, The Independence Gala @ Southbank Centre, a season
of Dance & Theatre; and the UK premiere of the Bharat Symphony
by Dr L Subramanium and the London Symphony Orchestra. In
addition, India@UK2017 will be supporting several high profile
events – notably Ravi Shankar’s Sukanya, the 8th London Indian
Film Festival, and the Darbar Festival 2017 with Akram Khan
this year.

For more information       on   India@UK2017   please   visit
www.hcilondon.in.

UK/India 2017
UK/India2017 is a year-long celebration of the long-standing
relationship between India and the UK, which will see a vast
programme of cultural exchange and activity take place in
cities across both countries. Working with a huge number of
partners and institutions, the British Council is developing a

programme of cultural activity which will connect and inspire
people in both countries; and strengthen and celebrate the UK
and India’s cultural ties. For more information on UK/India
2017 please visit www.britishcouncil.in

Kabaddi, Kho Kho and Ring
National Sports Tournament in
Birmingham
On Sunday 19th March 2017, Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh UK (HSS UK)
hosted its National Sports Tournament (Khel Pratiyogita), at
PlayFootball in Birmingham. This one day flagship event
attracted over 800 people of all ages (from 7 years to over
60) from across the country. With all to play for, the
atmosphere was electric as 67 teams from 27 towns brought
their talent together to compete in one of five key sports, in
hope to lift the winning trophy.

Along with Football for both Under 11s and Under 16s, the Khel
Pratiyogita has firmly established a national platform for
three indian originated sports; Kabaddi, Kho Kho and Ring. The
calibre achieved in these competitions has led to a number
ofour members being selected to represent England in Kabaddi
and Kho Kho in International Tournaments, including the recent
2016 World Cup Kabaddi Finals held in India.

Kho Kho
Observing the games, Mr Brij Haldania, Founder and Chairman of
the Kho Kho Federation England (KKFE) commented “Kho Kho is a
fast paced pursuit game that requires immense skill, stamina,
tactics and teamwork. I commend HSS UK for raising the

prominence of this sport at a national level. The calibre of
games played at the Khel Pratiyogita has continued to foster
exceptional talent. The dedication, commitment and passion
demonstrated by every participant at this year’s tournament
was a testament to the focus given to such sports at their
weekly activity centres (Shakhas). I look forward to working
with HSS UK to build greater representation in the game on an
international scale.”

Kabaddi
                          Kabaddi is a high energy contact
                          sport played within a marked pitch
                          that requires strength, stamina,
                          and above all teamwork. Drawing
                          upon traits from Rugby and
                          Wrestling,     participants     are
                          required to gain points on strong
                          raids into the opposition’s
                          territory,     but    maintaining
                          nimbleness on their feet to dodge
                          any tackles along the way. A
                          successful win is achieved through
                          the collective effort of the team.

Someshwar Kalia, a member (swayamsevak) of HSS UK’s Woolwich
Shakha and Captain of the England Kabaddi Team said: “I have
grown up playing Kabaddi every week at my Shakha. It was here
that we developed the understanding and importance of building
confidence, working as a team, and always being there to
support others. These core values were essential to playing
Kabaddi at an international level. The Khel Pratiyogita is
something I have looked forward to each year and has always
been a fantastic platform to nurture talent”.

This year history was made as one North London Shakha won the
trophies for all 5 sports. An amazing achievement that has

inspired all.

Khel Pratiyogita
Commenting on the tournament, Mr Dhiraj D Shah, President of
HSS UK said: “The Khel Pratiyogita is much more than just a
sports tournament. It’s a channel to bring together the human
spirit. As you observe each game being played at the Khel
Pratiyogita, you will see a crowd of support cheering every
player on irrespective of which team they are representing. It
is this spirit of community and collective effort (Sangathan)
that forms the cornerstone of HSS UK’s ethos. Sport is
an excellent way of bringing people together from diverse
backgrounds, and we are proud that every year we see
participants from all generations competing in the tournament.
Congratulations to all the participants who played with good
spirit and at a high level and standard, showcasing skill,
strength, speed, agility and courage.”

HSS UK’s Khel Pratiyogita has inspired other sporting events
including that organised by Hindu Sevika Samiti (the women’s
division), which collectively now attract around 2,000
participants annually to engage in national sporting
activities.

About Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh UK (HSS UK)
Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh UK is a charity that runs weekly
activities for the whole family promoting good moral values
through sports, leadership development and community service
across its 110 centres nationally. Celebrating its 50th
anniversary (Golden Jubilee) this year, HSS UK has reach to
over 10,000 Hindus in the UK. HSS UK’s objectives and
activities are based on the principles of Sanskaar (Values of
life), Sewa (Selfless Service) and Sangathan (Community
Spirit).

Kho Kho Federation England (KKFE) was established in 2014, and
recognised by Kho Kho Federation India, to promote the sport

of Kho Kho across England.

Kho Kho and Kabaddi are two of the most popular traditional
sports originating from the Indian Subcontinent. Kho Kho is a
tactical tag sport, in which two teams of 9 players take it in
turns to chase the opposing team around a central line. In
2016, the third standard style Kabaddi World Cup tournament
was held in India, governed by the International Kabaddi
Federation, in which 12 international teams competed,
including England.

Ring is a traditional Indian team sport that draws
similarities to that of Basketball. Following a series of team
passes, the aim is to score in the opposing goal using a ring
shaped ball.

Middlesex Premier Cricket
League celebrates its 25th
anniversary
The Middlesex Premier Cricket League (MPCL), the largest
Sunday amateur league in London & the South East, celebrated
its 25th anniversary on 5th November 2016. The twenty-fifth
year of competitions was recognised with presentations to
winning divisional teams and individual best bowlers, batsmen
and all-rounders. Special guest for the evening was Murali
Kartik who participated in a Q&A, answering questions about
his cricket career before congratulating winners and awarding
the prizes for the evening. Rajput Samaj Sports Club
celebrated a double victory; they were crowned the winners of
Division 1 and won the Middlesex Premier Cup. The league has
had an exceptional season with the addition of a newly-formed

Division 5 to meet demand for matches.

 Click to view photos from the MPCL Awards Presentation 2016

About Murali Kartik
Murali Kartik (Railways & India) is an Indian cricketer who
sporadically represented the India national cricket team from
2000 to 2007. He is a left-hand arm spinner in the classical
mould with a high-arm action straight from the coaching
manual. He made his mark as a one-day bowler against West
Indies in 2002-03, consistently keeping the batsmen in check
on flat pitches. However, his best moment clearly came in
Mumbai, against Australia in 2004-05 when he ran through the
Australian batting, taking seven wickets in the match to bowl
India to a famous win.

He has prospered in English domestic cricket including spells
at Middlesex, Somerset and Surrey. He was part of Middlesex’s
Twenty20 winning squad in 2008 and, uniquely, is the only
player in the world to play in the IPL and Stanford 20/20 in
the inaugural season.

About MPCL
The league was set up in January 1992 by 15 clubs who were
then playing in the Middlesex Club Cricketers League. The late
Bipin Patel (Suraj Victor) and Jayesh Patel (Anson) were the
principal leaders, who with the support of Arvind Patel
(United Sports) laid the foundations for the Middlesex Premier
Cricket League (MPCL). The new league started with 15 clubs
and two divisions in 1992 that by 2000 had grown to 28 clubs
in 4 divisions. In 2002, it added a 2nd XI competition to
encourage the youth and retain the experienced players. Today
we also have well established knockout competitions in the
form of the MPCL Cup and plate. Sunil M Gavaskar has always
taken a keen interest in the league, and in 2004, he agreed to
act as the patron to the league.

Click to view photos from the MPCL Awards Presentation 2016.

For further information visit http://middlesexpremier.co.uk/

Sporting Equals launches new
initiative      for    young
Pakistani women
Sporting Equals, the charity that exists to actively promote
greater involvement in sport, has launched a new initiative
for young Pakistani women. The ‘Sporting Equals Insights
Series’provides valuable insight which sport providers can
draw upon to make sport more inclusive for this segment and
help increase participation. It shows that young Asian
Pakistani females face educational, employment and economic
challenges alongside cultural barriers which impact on leisure
and lifestyle choices. Finding the time, the right sort of
motivation and the support meant there were limited
opportunities for these women to pursue their interests in
sport and physical activity.

Many of these young women were active at school and traced
their relative lack of engagement in sport and physical
activity after they left school linked to lack of confidence,
available coaching, suitable facilities and adequate
information and support. Some women expressed a view that the
male-dominated nature of sport was often viewed by families as
portraying it as an activity for males rather than females.
Very little support was given to females to engage in sport
with a more direct push for girls to focus on academic
studies.

For many of these women having sports and exercise
opportunities run by women for women was a critical factor in
engagement, often there was more local demand than
opportunities, with local female activities oversubscribed.
There was confidence that if opportunities were provided to
train more female coaches and instructors, then more women
would come forward to challenge potential objections from male
family members.

Achieving more opportunities to connect with sport and
physical exercise might involve getting key figures involved
in provision and instruction and improving local networks and
chances of communication.

Arun Kang, Sporting Equals CEO, commenting on the launch of
the new insight series said: “Our series will provide valuable
insight into the key factors preventing and motivating BAME
groups entering into sport and physical activity.”

The ‘Sporting Equals Insights Series’ is based on consumer
research, conducted in partnership with the Department of
Sociology at the University of Leicester, looking specifically
at the young Asian Pakistani female market (16-25). The
research was carried out using focus group techniques and one-
to-one interviews and has been supplemented with information
drawn from other research carried out by Sporting Equals.

John Williams, Associate Professor and co-director of the Unit
for Diversity, Inclusion and Community Engagement (DICE) at
the University of Leicester, commenting on the joint venture
said: “Sporting Equals is at the forefront of work designed to
increase sporting and physical activity opportunities for
marginalised communities. It is especially important to hear
the voices of people who are not regarded as ‘typical’
candidates for sporting activity and who are often ‘missed’ by
sporting governing bodies and local providers. These Insights
add to our patchy knowledge and they will help immeasurably in
devising effective policy which is both inclusive and

popular.”

Annie Zaidi is a football coach, Sporting Equals Ambassador,
winner of the Helen Rollason Award for Inspiration at the 2015
Sky Sportswomen of the Year Award and named as one of The
Independent’s 50 most influential women in sport. She said:
“Sporting Equals’s work within BAME communities has helped to
develop understanding about the cultural & religious factors
that prevent people from BAME communities to engage actively
in sporting activities. This then has a huge positive impact
on wider society as over the years Sporting Equals have used
this to help break down barriers & created community cohesion
by delivering local & national sporting events, projects and
courses to create active communities.”

For more information about        Sporting    Equals,   visit
www.sportingequals.org.uk

Samit Patel & Chance to Shine
street   cricket   light   up
Leicester
England cricketer Samit Patel, former Leicestershire player
Jigar Naik and Derbyshire CCC’s Shiv Thakor on visited a
Diwali celebration on 17th October 2016. As well as taking
part in some traditional Rangoli artwork, Samit, Jigar and
Shiv joined the Chance to Shine Street session at Leicester’s
Cossington Sports Centre. The Chance to Shine Street
competition saw a group of 8-15 year olds playing ‘tapeball’
cricket, a version of the game that originated on the streets
of India that lasts 20 minutes and uses a tennis ball wrapped
in electrical tape. Samit gave the participants some top tips

and answered their questions on cricket, his England career
and the current Bangladesh tour.

Chance to Shine Street was launched in 2008 and aims to
provide opportunities to play cricket to people in places that
the game has not traditionally reached. Its fast paced and
inclusive nature is proving popular in urban areas,
particularly in Leicester, London and Manchester.

Diwali, the Hindu festival of light, officially begins on
Sunday 30 October and the Leicester celebration is one of the
largest outside of India. Over 37,000 people attended the
switching on of the Diwali lights in 2015.

Speaking at the event, Samit said: “It was a really fun event
and something I was very proud to get involved in. Chance to
Shine and Lycamobile are bringing cricket to communities all
across the country. Street cricket in particular is opening up
new opportunities.

“It shows that cricket can be played and enjoyed anywhere and
some really talented players are developing, particularly here
in Leicester. I’m sure that we’ve seen a few shining lights
who can illuminate the cricketing scene in the future!”

England cricketer Samit Patel with Lycamobile Group
Marketing Director Khalid Aziz

The event is one of a series taking place this year as part of
the ongoing partnership between Lycamobile and Chance to
Shine, which was renewed in August for a second year. With
Lycamobile’s support, Chance to Shine has expanded its Street
programme, which uses cricket to promote social cohesion among
communities affected by anti-social behaviour and youth crime.

Subaskaran Allirajah, Lyca Group Chairman, said: “It’s
fantastic to mark the festival of Diwali by celebrating with
the cricketing stars of Chance to Shine Street. The charity’s
work in Leicester is providing opportunities for young people
to participate in cricket and breaking down barriers through
the power of sport. The Diwali celebration speaks to our
commitment at Lycamobile to bring together communities, both
within the UK and internationally.”

To   find   out   more   about   Chance   to   Shine   go   to
www.chancetoshine.org. To find out about your nearest Street
cricket       session      in      Leicester      go      to

www.leicestershirecricket.co.uk.

Haseeb Hameed is named ‘Young
Asian Cricketer of the Year
2016’
England’s newest star Haseeb Hameed was named best young
player at the Asian Cricket Awards 2016, while Adil Rashid
stumped Moeen Ali to pick up the Player of the Year award.
Teenage Lancashire batsman Haseeb Hameed capped a memorable
month by picking up the Young Player award at the 2016 Asian
Cricket Awards
(ACA) at The Kia Oval on Friday evening (September 23).
Hameed, 19, was last week called up to the England Test squad
for the upcoming tour of Bangladesh. If he plays, he will
become the youngest player to represent the country since
Brian Close turned out against New Zealand at Old Trafford in
1949. “It’s great to be picked for England. It’s surreal, it
moved really quickly,” Hameed said after picking up his award.

“I’d never have dreamed about being picked 12 months ago.
Alistair Cook has been in touch to say congratulations, but
I’m really looking forward to meeting and working with the
team. I have to make sure I don’t change my game, and I have
to make sure I do it my way. “This is the second time I’ve won
the [ACA young player] award. I got confidence from winning
last year and it’s a very nice feeling.

“I have to take everything in my stride and stay balanced. At
this age it can only be about upbringing, so it’s a credit to
my parents.

“With the recognition comes responsibility; I have to act as a
role model, make sure I don’t change as a person and be my own
man.”

England and Yorkshire leg spinner Adil Rashid was named Player
of the Year at the awards, which are sponsored by Talk Home
Mobile and supported by the Club Cricket Conference and the
ECB. They aim to improve awareness of
the positive impact made by Asians in the British cricket
industry.

Rashid’s success prevented his international team-mate Moeen
Ali from making it a hat-trick of ACA wins. The Worcestershire
all-rounder had picked up the prestigious award in 2014 and
2015. A regular in England’s ODI team – helping the country to
the final of the T20 World Cup in India earlier this year –
Rashid earned a recall to the Test side and played his part in
this summer’s series triumph over Pakistan.

Elsewhere, former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara was
honoured with a Special Recognition Award by ACA founders
Inventive Sports. Sangakarra scored more than 28,000 Test runs
during his long and successful career and is regarded as one
of the sport’s greatest batsmen. “It’s a great privilege and
pleasure to be presented with this award,” he said. “The Asian
community in England and at large have been wonderful icons
and a great inspiration.”

The winners of the 2016 Asian Cricket Awards
– BEHIND THE SCENES AWARD
Winner: Amna Rafiq (Leicestershire CCC)
Also nominated: Kunwar Bansil (lead physiotherapist, Yorkshire
CCC), Sanjay Patel (commercial director, England & Wales
Cricket Board)

– GRASSROOTS AWARD
Winner: Shahidul Alam Ratan (Director of Cricket at Capital
Kids, London Tigers CC)

Also nominated: Mantrulaady Thusharaah (British Tamil Cricket
League), Nasa Hussain (Community Groundsman, Yorkshire)

– AMATEUR COACH AWARD
Winner: Shaz Khan (Oxfordshire CCC, Shrivenham CC)
Also nominated: Minesh Patel (Eastcote CC, Hillingdon Borough
CC, Middlesex North), Khalid Zafar (Berkshire CCC, Reading CC,
Chance to Shine)

– CLUB CRICKET CONFERENCE INSPIRATION AWARD
Winner: Maryam Ali (community cricket coach in Yorkshire)

– MEDIA AWARD
Winner: Vithushan Ehantharajah (freelance cricket writer)
Also nominated: Kalika Mehta (BBC Sport Online), Sahil Dutta
(freelance cricket writer)

– POSTHUMOUS AWARD
Winner: Hamza Shabbir (Hampshire CCC, Downend CC)

– PROFESSIONAL YOUNG PLAYER AWARD
Winner: Haseeb Hameed (Lanchashire CCC)
Also nominated: Aadil Ali (Leicestershire CCC), Kishen Velani
(Essex CCC)

– WOMAN IN CRICKET AWARD
Joint winners: Nalisha Patel (Lancashire Thunder) and Shabnim
Ismail (Yorkshire Diamonds)
Also nominated: Raveena Lakhtaria (Surrey Stars)

– FOUNDERS SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD
Kumar Sangakkara (former Sri Lanka captain)

– PROFESSIONAL COACH AWARD
Winner: Cookie Patel (Regional Training Manager, ECB)
Also nominated: Min Patel (Kent CCC), Kadeer Ali (Performance
Coach, Warwickshire CCC)

– ASIAN CRICKET CLUB AWARD
Winner: Indian Gymkhana CC (West London)

Also nominated: Mount CC (Batley, West Yorkshire), British
Tamil Cricket League

– PROFESSIONAL PLAYER AWARD
Winner: Adil Rashid (Yorkshire CCC and England)
Also nominated: Moeen Ali (Worcestershire CCC and England)

For further information visit www.asiancricketwards.com