Luton Indoor Big Bash Cricket League-Case Study 2021-22
Case Study: Authors Uzayr Raja Director of Stem Sports supported by Dave Summers Diverse Communities Officer Cricket East-The purpose of this document is to evidence the benefits and opportunities these weekly activities have given in supporting local communities engaging with one another post Covid lockdowns. Feedback from all participants is unedited to help with authenticity.
We also wish to recognise support from Amran Malik Cricket East and Graham Simpson at the County Sports Partnership: Team Beds and Luton for helping with securing Tackling Inequalities Funding through Sport England. Recognition of the importance of this funding and its wider implications across the town has also featured recently with BBC Look East Regional News coverage.
Number of total participants and different communities participating, can include any spectators:
108 so far which excludes national finals which will have another 16 players minimum.
We have players participating mainly from the following communities: Pakistani, Kashmiri, Indian and Afghan community.
Quotes from a few players on the benefits they have had from being able to re-engage/socialise through cricket with friends from a health & well-being point of view following lockdowns:
Musa Ilyas: Good for getting eye in and fitness before the outdoor season. IBB certainly helps me whilst there’s no other cricket taking place and games are fun as everyone gets a go. Format is inclusive.
Zahid Khan: IBB is a format of cricket for any cricket lover of any ability. It has brought friends together that played maybe in high school college together and then parted their own ways, now playing IBB together again. Lockdown has brought a lack of mental strength and a lot of stress that IBB helps to relieve.
Assan Shaukat: With lockdown over the last 18 months or so the chance to play sport and particular sport that is seasonal become very difficult so having the chance to play indoor cricket in the form of IBB during the winter which isn’t traditionally cricket season was great for getting back into participating in physical activity again.
Awais Khan: Since lockdown, IBB has been a great way to get back to socialising with friends. The last 2 years have been tough for everyone. IBB has helped me with my mental health allowing me to clear my mind as well as enjoy playing cricket. Indoor tournaments such as the IBB are a great initiative for people to get together and network while enjoying themselves. We need more community activities like this that will engage youngsters, keeping them off the streets.
Sajid Ali: Playing cricket in a friendly but competitive environment has allowed me to feel like normality has started to return to my life. I feel excited and look forward to participating on the weekends. I love meeting my old friends and making new ones and this helps me relax and unwind. During lockdown sitting at home staring at the TV with the occasional walk or bike ride was a very difficult and stressful time for me. I felt extremely unfit and depressed. Being part of IBB has allowed me to socialise and keep fit and most importantly I can play the game I love and have played since I was a young boy. I believe a similar format should be introduced for young kids as they would learn important disciplines and it no doubt would have a very positive impact on their mental well being. With so much knife crime, drugs and anti social behaviour, kids need somewhere to express themselves and let off steam. The organisers of IBB do an amazing job organising all the games and everyone participating or spectating always shows great respect. An inter school IBB competition would be great way of breaking down barriers. Kids of all ages from different schools could meet and compete and this would no doubt be beneficial for the whole community.
Sajid Zarait: Needless to say lockdown was a difficult period for the global community as a whole.
Staying indoors without socialising with friends and family definitely takes a tole on an individual’s health both physically and mentally.
Playing sports such as cricket is a great platform to socialise and interact with members of the community.
You have the opportunity to meet new people, share ideas and enjoy the game of cricket.
Statistics have shown that playing sports can increase self-esteem and reduce stress and anxiety.
I personally found that taking part in the Indoor Big Bash was a fantastic stress release and a much needed change of scenery.
Iftikhar Ahmed: IBB has allowed me to socialise with people from various backgrounds uniting us with the same common liking and interest in cricket. Socialising with such people has allowed me to broaden my mindset and accept different peoples views on things. This has further helped develop close friendships and help keep a healthy mindset. Cricket allows one to focus on the sport the love and become a welcome distraction from the day to day life problems.
Physically the IBB helps greatly to keep in shape and raise heart beat levels. The physical excursions in IBB also has the obvious benefits on a healthy mind. The return of IBB after lockdown especially makes one appreciate the benefits of participating in such an activity, be it the physical demands or just the normal conversations that take place such sporting events.
I have seen all ages of the community take part and I believe this will always benefit the greater good of the local community as allows the focus to move into a healthy competitive sport and distract from negative activities people can participate in.
IBB like all sports allows barriers to be broken and unite people with a common goal from all backgrounds
Imran Sarfaraz: Being able to re-engage/socialise through cricket with friends and others has helped mentally, after going through lockdowns its just the type of thing that was needed to rid oneself of the worries and anxiety built up during lockdown.
Good news stories of team participants also supporting further sporting/cricket/community activities locally following lockdowns:
Musa has now developed into a coach, coaching at Cricket East and plays for Beds county too.
Zahid Khan has just got his coaching badges and is looking to get into coaching whilst playing all year round too.
Sajid Ali is also a qualified coach who helps out at Lutonians CC
Dave Summers Feb 2022
