A NEW programme aimed at getting more young people active and playing cricket was unveiled in Bradford today.

Scores of children and young people flocked to the Karmand Community Centre to take part in the first Wicketz session, organised by the Yorkshire Cricket Foundation, the official charity of Yorkshire CCC.

Children aged from eight to 16 practised their front foot drives and catching in the fast-paced, fun form of the game.

The aim of the programme is to establish sustainable cricket environments in areas of high deprivation, enabling children and young people to get the chance to take part in regular exercise for free.

The programme has been funded by the Lord’s Taverners, the official charity for recreational cricket and the UK’s leading youth cricket and disability sports charity.

Going forward it will be led by local coaches to provide a fun experience of the game for young people who may never have played before, help young people build life skills, friendships, and increase community cohesion.

Weekly sessions will take place at the Karmand Community Centre in Barkerend Road, Barkerend, and at the Grange Interlink Community Centre in Summerville Road, Horton Grange, and at a venue in Leeds, with dates to be confirmed.

Ben Fraser, Bradford and Leeds Wicketz Development Officer, said: “We had a brilliant turnout with more than 50 young people coming down for the first session for primary school children.

“Hopefully it will inspire them to keep coming and to play cricket as they get older.

“We had a good mix between children who have played cricket and ones that have never played, but everyone has enjoyed it.

“It was also brilliant to see so many girls at the session. Sometimes there can be a bit of a barrier for girls but to see boys and girls mixing and playing together really well shows there is no disconnect between them.

“This type of cricket is all about the ease of picking up and playing.

“For somebody wanting to give it a go for the first time, you will learn the fundamental elements of the sport, in a fun and enjoyable way.

“I’m really excited to get started with the first ever Wicketz hubs in Bradford. I’m confident these will become something children, young people and the wider community can take different forms of ownership of from the get-go.”

Mohammad Tanveer took his ten-year-old son Anastanveer along to the session after he heard about it at school.

Mr Tanveer, from Bradford Moor, said: “He is very passionate about cricket.

“We play together all the time and this is good for him to play with other children, keep active and develop skills.”

Shazia Bibi was at the event with her 11-year-old daughter Malaika, and added: “She is very interested in sport, she does after school activities like football and other games.

“Malaika really wanted to sign up for this and come down to try, hopefully more girls will join as well.

“It’s really important for children to get active and to encourage them to do more exercise and eat healthily, and hopefully this scheme will get more children active and also socialising more.”