The indoor centre of Edgbaston's cricket stadium hosted a cricket match to celebrate the Sikh Festival of Vaisakhi recently. Over 80 people, including women and children first-timers to the sport, participated in the special tournament.
Edgbaston MP Preet Gill, who entered a team consisting of family and friends, praised the Club for reaching out to the Sikh community across Birmingham. “I’ve enjoyed taking part, it’s been a brilliant experience,” she said.
Commenting on the first ever Vaisakhi celebration organised by the club, Gill further said, “Events like this show how open and welcoming the Club is. Stadia like Edgbaston should be bringing people together and be a focal point of communities. For people in my constituency, this should be their stadium, not just to come and spectate but to actively play a part and get involved in events like this.
The event had Bhangra beats by Birmingham Sikh group Eternal Taal and a special festive lunch organized for the participants. According to a official statement the success of the inaugural competition has encouraged the club to develop it over the coming years.
“There were lots of smiles and laughs, but also a competitive edge amongst the teams as we came towards the final stages,” Simran Riat from the Warwickshire Cricket Board, who organised the event said.
“Hopefully it’ll inspire the children to play more cricket as there are huge physical and mental health benefits. Who knows, we may have ignited a spark in some of these children that could lead to a fulfilling career in cricket. That would be amazing!” she added.
