Yorkshire Cricket Foundation to celebrate community in special Ramadan Cup event in Wakefield

The award-winning Foundation is hosting its first ever Yorkshire Ramadan Cup - with the event providing the opportunity for people in the community to pray together, play cricket together, and eat together, on Saturday (April 9) at Wakefield Football Centre.

The Tapeball competition, held in the month of Ramadan, will see eight teams across the region play in 30 ball matches and will welcome Northern Diamonds cricketer Beth Langston as one of the guests of the day.

There is also the opportunity for participants and members of the community to pray together and take part in an iftar meal.

During the period, Muslims do not eat or drink between dawn and evening, with a meal known as iftar taken directly after sunset.

Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. The overall purpose of the fast is to gain Taqwa (which means to gain piety or God-consciousness). This is achieved through an increase in prayers, reading the Qur’an, self-reflection and self-discipline.

Sohail Raz, Diverse Communities Manager for YCF, who has helped organise the community event, said: “The Ramadan Tapeball Cup is a brilliant initiative in a shortened tape-ball format of 30 balls per innings that keeps everyone on their toes.

“With Ramadan coming earlier and earlier every year, this year it will be played indoors and though it will be competitive, there will be a nice community feel with members of the community fasting, playing, praying and breaking their fasts together to create a real family atmosphere.”