The Yorkshire Cricket Board (YCB) has launched a new fund which will help to tackle inequalities around access to grounds for ‘nomadic teams’ in the region.
Thanks to the backing of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), a bursary will go to each team who don’t have their own ground, and in addition teams will also be able to access safeguarding, first aid training and YCB affiliation.
Nomadic league project
Currently there are leagues featuring more than 90 cricket teams in Yorkshire who don’t have their own ground.
This includes the Quaid-e-Azam Premier Cricket League, Quaid-e-Azam Sunday Cricket League and Allama Iqbal Sunday Cricket League – who have set-up on their own and have historically played on council pitches like Hirst Wood in Bradford.
Nomadic teams who belong to leagues but don’t have their own ground are competing for places to play due to juniors, seniors and women and girls’ teams all needing to fit in fixtures.
Demand unquestionably outstrips supply. In some cases, players who are part of nomadic teams may only find out the night before where they are playing and can end up playing on five different grounds in a season, with a ground-hire fee of up to £120 per game.
Mo Hussain, Yorkshire County Cricket Club’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager, said: “During 2024 we were delighted to launch the nomadic teams fund and training which is another important and positive step for the Yorkshire Family and is integral to supporting cricket to become the most inclusive team sport in the UK.
“We encourage all our leagues and cricket clubs to support nomadic teams. It’s a very competitive and amazing standard of cricket that brings different cultures and communities together.
“It also benefits host clubs because you have access to a whole new pool of players who can then become members and go into other roles such as volunteering and much more.
“This is very much a national challenge for nomadic teams, here in Yorkshire we wanted to recognise and reward these teams and hopefully we can inspire more counties to follow suit.”
Mo Hussain, Yorkshire County Cricket Club’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager, pictured at Yorkshire County Cricket Clubs’ Diwali celebrations.
Paul Cummins, Director of Recreational Cricket for YCB, said: “A key part of YCB’s role is to lead, unite and inspire the recreational game across Yorkshire and celebrate its diverse communities.
“We want to ensure an inclusive environment for all across our leagues and clubs across Yorkshire. It was important for us to invest in the nomadic teams and provide essential training as they are part of the rich tapestry of cricket in the county.
“This scheme means nomadic teams most in need of support will have the opportunity to access funding and, combined with the essential training, we are confident that it will help the teams for many years to come.”
Some of the teams who have benefited from the YCB fund and training include White Rose Cricket Club and Bhalot Strikers, which are both part of the Quaid-e-Azam Premier League.
How the fund is supporting Nomadic teams across Yorkshire
Nadeem Akhtar, Chairman and founder of White Rose Cricket Club, in Bradford, said: “This funding will greatly help teams. For us it will help to support costs including ground fees… and other costs like teas, and umpire and league fees.
“What I would say to clubs out there is to let nomadic teams have access for the Sunday games. Let them play and charge them. The teams are happy to pay, so it is good for the clubs.
“Often the grounds are empty, but historically they aren’t letting Sunday teams play. I think there is an assumption it is ‘fun cricket’ – this isn’t the case. It is high quality cricket – with a lot of the players also playing on a Saturday.”
Pictured Nadeem Akhtar, at Park Avenue Bradford Cricket Ground
Sakab Raja, Captain for Abbeydale Cricket Club, who play in the Sheffield Allama Iqbal League, said: “The bursary has been a huge help.
“We were able to cover our ground fees, which took a lot of pressure off the players in terms of subs. Plus, we got some new match balls, which made a big difference.”
Samar Farooq, former Captain of Bhalot Strikers, who play in the Quaid-e-Azam League, said: “It can be very difficult to find a ground to play on. So far this year we’ve already played on three different ones.
“Sometimes we’ll find out where we’re playing Saturday night, it’s not easy. And the standard is so high in the league – it is good quality cricket.
“The funding will really help us out. We are still struggling – because we don’t get ground sponsors and we don’t have income coming in – from sources like bars and pubs. At the moment we all chip in to bring in good players and keep the standard high.
“We can use it to help cover ground fees and the rest, and it costs a team around £5k-7k to run a club per year.”
From left: Basharat Hussain, Executive Chair for Quaid e Azam Premier Cricket League, alongside Jane Pratt President of the Airedale & Wharfedale Senior Cricket League, Alan Birkinshaw, Chief Executive of The Gordon Rigg Bradford Premier League, and Mo Hussain, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager for YCCC, after signing the Yorkshire and Humber Anti-Racism in Sports Group anti-racism pledge at Headingley this year.
Basharat Hussain, Executive Chair for Quaid e Azam Premier Cricket League, said: “It’s really important that nomadic clubs have been spotlighted.
“There is a lot of stress for nomadic teams. For some teams it will come to the beginning of the season and they haven’t got a ground.
“Grounds have never been in higher demand – what with the record number of different teams in Yorkshire who need space also, we appreciate that and – it is a challenge.
“We still have a long way to go but certainly having the opportunity of this bursary and the two training sessions is a brilliant move.”
Additional reporting John Fuller
