The Yorkshire Cricket Board (YCB) has launched a new fund which will help to tackle inequalities around access to grounds for ‘nomadic teams’ in the region, with Bradford set to be the main city to benefit.

Thanks to the backing of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), a bursary will go to each team who don’t have their own ground, and in addition teams will also be able to access safeguarding, first aid training and YCB affiliation.

Currently there are leagues featuring more than 90 cricket teams in Yorkshire who don’t have their own ground.

This includes the Quaid-e-Azam Premier Cricket League and Quaid-e-Azam Sunday Cricket League, where games have historically been played on council pitches like Hirst Wood in Bradford.

Nomadic teams who belong to leagues but don’t have their own ground are competing for places to play due to juniors, seniors and women and girls’ teams all needing to fit in fixtures.

Demand unquestionably outstrips supply, which means players who are part of nomadic teams may only find out the night before where they are playing.

They can end up playing on perhaps five different grounds in a season, with a hire fee of up to £120 per game.

Mo Hussain, Yorkshire County Cricket Club’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager, said: “During 2024 we were delighted to launch the nomadic teams fund and training.

"It is another important and positive step for the Yorkshire Family and is integral to supporting cricket to become the most inclusive team sport in the UK.

“We encourage all our leagues and cricket clubs to support nomadic teams. It’s a very competitive and amazing standard of cricket that brings different cultures and communities together.

“It also benefits host clubs because you have access to a whole new pool of players who can then become members and go into other roles such as volunteering and much more.

“This is very much a national challenge for nomadic teams, here in Yorkshire we wanted to recognise and reward these teams and hopefully we can inspire more counties to follow suit.”

Some of the teams who have benefited from the YCB fund and training include White Rose Cricket Club and Bhalot Strikers, which are both part of the Quaid-e-Azam Premier League.