The Club Cricket Conference Yearbook 2020

- 56 - The National Asian Cricket Council South Asian Cricket Community: ‘A Wish List’ In May 2018 the ECB launched its South Asian Action Plan (SAAP) which was welcomed by the National Asian Cricket Council (NACC) as an extensive, extremely insightful and comprehensive Action Plan. It was important that the ECB consulted the South Asian Cricketing Community (SACC) up and down the country and with the NACC being in a position to facilitate and offer extensive advice into the preparation and delivery of this Action Plan, we could finally start to address a whole number of issues that the SACC have had going back decades. Our role and work are still very much in line with the ECB’s SAAP and it is equally positive to see our partnerships with a number of County Boards up and down the country develop into very meaningful partnerships. I strongly feel that NACC can complement and support the work the County Boards are striving to do resulting in an open and meaningful understanding of the NACC’s role which can cement the vital work that needs to be done and by truly understanding each other’s roles we can strive to reach all the aims and objectives that have been highlighted in the ECB’s SAAP. It is also now a crucial time for key stakeholders to review, reflect and even reboot the current position we find ourselves and then move forward in a way that keeps us on the road of aiming to help deliver the many needs of the SACC. Although it would be wonderful to have a magic wand and transform many of the needs that the SACC desire, the actual list may not be exhausted and certainly not as unrealistic as it may seem. From holding extensive dialogue with representatives of the SACC dating as far back as 2012, it has become clear on not only what the needs are but also who the very real and practical partners can be, which should then help address the needs of the SACC. The ambitions of the SACC can be traced and tracked to the following: 1. Requiring assistance and help with grounds/facilities plus access to funding/training for improvement and maintenance of grounds. 2. Identifying and supporting talented young cricketers at an early stage for County Age Group Programmes, especially from inner cities. Clear pathways that are then supported with clarity and true intentions that will then benefit young players from the SACC. 3. Identifying and supporting aspiring or experienced coaches for all levels in the game from grassroots to elite level.