South Asian Cricket Academy

[Nas207]

What are UK fans thoughts on this organisation?

For those unaware, its an outreach program/team aimed at boosting south Asian representation in professional cricket. It seems to be closely linked to Birmingham University and has already produced a significant number of players.

Personally think its an interesting idea, though would like to see something similar for all non-privately educated players rather than just the focus on South Asians.

 

[Yeoman]

Agreed. Think it would promote greater integration if it and the ACE programme (for black players) were folded into a wider organisation intended to promote cricket in urban areas generally.

In terms of the players who have come through the SACA so far, it is perhaps an exaggeration to say they were produced by it as many (if not all, at least to date) had been around the second xi circuit rather than being complete new discoveries.

 

[Nas207]

Its definitely helped boost their careers, so that seems to be a plus.

Only question for me is that when you base these things on racial inequalities rather than class ones it tends to miss the real problem.

I dont know about all their graduates but Andrew Umeed for example is privately educated. Was he really disadvantaged? Questionable.

 

[cnerd123]

Only question for me is that when you base these things on racial inequalities rather than class ones it tends to miss the real problem.

IDK, Racism in cricket structures seems like a very real problem in the UK too

 

[number11]

TBH South Asians are the only minority group to play cricket in the UK [in meaningful numbers]. There needs to be investment- yes, but also a drive to diversify its appeal to rope the Caribbean guys back in.

 

[Ali TT]

I've not heard about SACA but have ACE. I think it's probably more effective to target based upon race-lines than class. The latter is less easily defined and going for "urban" by definition means you are going to capture people of all social backgrounds in our big cities. Perhaps targeting smaller towns in the North or Midlands, where cricket has lost its presence, would be better if you wanted to target based more upon class (see Flintoff's TV show where he returned to Preston).

 

[Nas207]

IDK, Racism in cricket structures seems like a very real problem in the UK too

More than class though? I mean we have an indian PM. As i said, someone like Umeed who went to private school is more advantaged than any race in a public school. I just think private schools are the real divide in the Englidh game