The Cohesion Cup, also known as the Cardiff Community Cricket Cup, is an exciting cricket tournament that unites communities of diverse heritage from across Cardiff. Held annually during the summer months, this competition takes place on the picturesque pitches surrounding Sophia Gardens with the first matches this week.
The tournament concludes in an exciting finale - a T20 match at Sophia Gardens where the winning team competes against a line-up of Ex-Pros, selected guests, and members of the South Wales Police. This year's highly anticipated Finale is scheduled for Friday, 23rd August.
A collaborative effort led by Glamorgan Cricket, Cricket Wales and South Wales Police; the Cohesion Cup has been a flourishing initiative since its inception in 2017.
The primary objective of this project is to remove perceived social barriers and foster positive relationships across communities, leveraging cricket as a catalyst for cohesion.
The 2024 launch event for the Cohesion Cup took place on Tuesday, April 30th, from 6pm to 8 pm at the Lewis Lounge. The event featured presentations from Mark Frost, Community Manager, Glamorgan Cricket, Mark Attwell, Superintendent from South Wales Police, and Cardiff Community Cricket Cup Project Manager Awais Choudhary.
The draw for team placements was conducted by Councillors Kanaya Singh and Julie Sangani.
Awais Choudhary, Cardiff Community Cricket Cup Project Manager said: “The Cardiff Community Cricket Cup embodies the spirit of unity and inclusivity, bringing together diverse teams from across Cardiff. It's not just about the sport; it's about fostering connections, breaking down barriers, and celebrating our shared passion for cricket."
Mark Frost, Community Manager, Glamorgan Cricket said: “This competition generates a lot of excitement, interest and friendship. It brings players together who wouldn’t normally meet in a cricket match or elsewhere and it’s great to see so many different cultural backgrounds coming together through a shared cricket match”.
Meet the Teams:
The participating teams for this year's tournament are divided into two groups:
Group A:
- Khyber CC
- Pakistan Super Kings
- Ceylon CC
- Serendib Lions
- Cardiff Gharains
Group B:
- Swansea Warriors
- Cardiff Dragons
- Cardiff 11
- The Roti Group
- Llandaff CC