Pakistani quick Wahab Riaz recently attended the Chance to Shine Street event in Walthamstow, encouraging local youngsters to get involved in tape ball cricket and helping to spread the ‘power of cricket’, inspiring and helping them to learn life skills and connect communities.
Wahab Riaz stepped back in time to his youth and tested his skills out with a tape-ball, before taking part in a Street cricket match, much to the delight of the local kids.
Speaking at The Peter May Centre in Walthamstow, the Chance to Shine Ambassador said: “I’m proud to be here today supporting Chance to Shine Street. I remember how important cricket was when I was growing up and it taught me so many valuable lessons that helped me on and off the cricket pitch.
“Cricket has the power to break down barriers and support young people from all backgrounds to realise their dreams and develop important life skills.”
Chance to Shine Street is cricket, but not as you know it. Free, weekly sessions are held all year round at community venues, such as leisure centres, sports halls and caged areas around housing estates and parks.
Games are based on an exciting six-a-side format using a tape-ball – a tennis ball wrapped in electrical tape. It is inclusive, lots of fun and accessible with little equipment required and everyone getting a chance to bat, bowl and field.
Chance to Shine Street Operations Manager, Richard Joyce, added: “To have a player of Wahab’s calibre supporting Chance to Shine Street means a lot to us and also to the kids who love playing tape-ball cricket so much.
“The programme shows that cricket can play a special role in bringing communities closer together, and that the ‘power of cricket’ can inspire young people and help them learn key life skills. “We have found tapeball cricket increasingly popular with young people in urban communities, and will continue to take the Street programme to many more communities in London and across the country.”
