Yorkshire County Cricket Club has announced new three-year partnership with a local business who will support the provision of free kit for County Age Group teams.
Al-Murad will have their brand emblazoned on the sleeves of Yorkshire’s County Age Group teams, a partnership which will help to remove financial barriers and make the Pathway system inclusive for all. Al-Murad will also have their brand displayed in the East Stand indoor nets and on the Headingley Pavilion.
Al-Murad is now one of the nation’s largest independent ceramic tiles and natural stone importer and retailer with over 40 stores and an increasingly strong and continually growing online presence on offer to customers.
The Leeds-based company, which employs over 300 people, also does considerable charitable work through its foundation, the ‘Al-Murad Trust Limited, which contributes to good causes as part of its wider social impact in the UK and abroad. Al-Murad have also offered considerable financial support to several cricket teams in Yorkshire.
Murad Ali Patel, Founder of Al-Murad said: “The Azeem Rafiq scandal had a widespread impact on communities in Yorkshire and many within our business were deeply hurt by it. However, since Lord Patel took over as Chair of the Club in November we have been heartened to see widespread change that is needed to make cricket an inclusive game for all.
“It is crucially important that every boy and girl from any background, faith and community has an equitable chance to shine and succeed at YCCC and in the wider game.
“Some important changes have been made resulting in the ECB confirming the re-introduction of international cricket at Headingley, which is welcome news.
“We are one of the leading Asian businesses in the UK with our HQ in Yorkshire and are proud to come on board as an official community partner of YCCC. We hope that through our involvement the pace of recovery will further accelerate in the Club’s culture and in the hearts and minds of everyone associated with it.
“As part of an initial three-year community partnership we particularly welcome the changes in accessing the Pathway programmes, which historically were seen as a major blockage for talent to be identified from Yorkshire’s South Asian Community.”
Lord Kamlesh Patel, Chair of Yorkshire County Cricket Club said: “I am delighted with our new partnership with the Al-Murad Group whose sponsorship is helping to make the Pathway system more accessible for young players in Yorkshire.
“Yorkshire is full of talented players and we are hopeful that such support will help us to identify and nurture talent from our most diverse communities.”
Maroof Khan, Director of Business Development at Yorkshire County Cricket Club said: “It’s fantastic to have another huge Yorkshire-based business partner with us and we are very much looking forward to working with them over the next three years and beyond.
“Their support of cricket in the county is long-standing having supported six local cricket clubs over the years. We are very much looking forward to having them by our side as we make game-changing differences over the coming years.”
