What do you get when you mix the spirit of Ramadan, tape ball cricket and tea?.. The perfect evening!
Last Friday, 13th March, Berkshire Cricket hosted it’s inaugural “Tea & Tape ball” event, inviting the community in Slough and Reading to Singh Sabha Sports Centre to play some fast paced indoor cricket games and enjoy some tea with some snacks. The event was held in the evening, following evening prayers that are a central part of the holy month of Ramadan. Open to all faiths, we welcomed participants from many different faiths and background, highlighting how we can use our shared love for the sport, to break down borders and promote community cohesion.
The matches saw Reading take on Slough, in four 7-over matches, and it was refreshing to see a whole range of ages in attendance, with parents and coaches getting involved! The matches were close, with some fantastic cricket being played throughout the evening, proving you don’t need a leather ball for a hard-hitting game. The energy on the field was matched only by the camaraderie off it, with families and friends cheering on their team mates. Some fantastic batting from Slar Hashmi, Ahmed Imran, Yuvraj Singh saw Reading win 3-1 on the night. I would also like to mention Hasan and Husain Habil, Muhammad Khakan and Irvinjot Singh, who bowled and fielded extremely well for Reading.
Despite both sides desire to win every ball, win every match, everyone was able to have a cup of Chaii after the games, chat and share their cricketing, life and Ramadan experiences. Of course, no Ramadan gathering is complete without breaking bread, or in this case, snacks and Chaii. Participants enjoyed a cup of steaming Karak Chaii, creating the perfect setting for conversation and connections.
I would like to thank everyone that attended and supported the event. Our parents, community, supporters, coaches and most importantly, our participants made the vision a reality. We aimed to create a space where we could celebrate not just the spirit of Ramadan, but all of the faiths and different backgrounds in our communities and our love for the game, and we achieved exactly that.
What’s next?
The feedback we’ve received has been amazing, and Berkshire Cricket will continue to deliver similar events and programmes. Our attention now turns to the Chance to Shine Street Regional competitions in the Easter holidays, followed by our free to enter tape ball competition on May bank holiday.