The Preamble to The Laws of Cricket states:
鈥淐ricket is an exciting game that encourages leadership, friendship and teamwork, which brings together people from different nationalities, cultures and religions, especially when played within the Spirit of Cricket.鈥�
The England and Wales Cricket Board and organisations across the game have reaffirmed their commitment to this statement, and to ensuring the highest standards of integrity are maintained to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between different people in the design and delivery of their activities.
As Leaders of a variety of different faiths and communities, we support this commitment and are united in our willingness to work together with the 黑料专区 and the wider game of cricket to achieve change and to demonstrate cricket鈥檚 ability to unite people and communities from different backgrounds.
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鈥淕uidance for humankind since the first revelation of the word 鈥淩EAD鈥� in the Quran over 1400 years on, we see ourselves that equality for fellow human beings is a big social issue around the world today.
鈥淐ricket, what an amazing sport, a fantastic way of developing skills, bringing unity, strategy, leadership, understanding beyond borders through race, religion and faith. I welcome and commit to this Unity Statement that will bring change and a better tomorrow for all.鈥�
Mufti Yusuf Akudi 鈥� Imam, Heaven Help Us Cricket Club
鈥淩eligious freedom is the oldest human right. The one right of which mankind has the longest experience. Playing together, like eating together. helps break down barriers, reminding us of the modern values of tolerance, pluralism and broad-mindedness. Sikhism's cardinal principle, 'Sarbat Dha Bhalla' (Peace and Good Tidings to All), reminds us of our common humanity and that we are not alone - and a value which our coming together in sport ultimately epitomises.鈥�
Professor Satvinder Juss, Sikh Faith
鈥淲ith the blessing of Archbishop Welby, cricket has been a uniting tool that has brought both ecumenical and interfaith engagement that has been breaking ground and changing lives. From cricket programmes in young offenders鈥� prisons to cricket played in the Vatican, the power of this sport has enabled faith communities to set aside their differences and celebrate their distinctiveness in the shared love of the game that brings hope and builds community.
鈥淲e continue to use cricket as a tool that builds society though unity and inclusivity and are proud to be joining our interfaith sisters and brothers in supporting this Unity Statement.鈥�
Revd Chris Kennedy - The Archbishop of Canterbury Cricket Team听
鈥淎s Pope Pius XII observed in 1945, the question should not be why is the Church bothered about sport but, 鈥楬ow can the Church not be interested in sport?鈥� It is the same for other denominations, faiths and beliefs.
鈥淢y friendly Sunday cricket club in an Oxfordshire village has Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, agnostic, humanist and atheist players. We expect the professional game similarly to be all-inclusive.鈥�
Professor Simon Lee on behalf of H.E Cardinal Vincent Nichols Archbishop of Westminster听
鈥淭he Chief Rabbi's favourite sporting analogy is that, away from the cricket field, we should all try to be batters and not bowlers. Whereas it is the job of the batter to score runs for the team, it is the task of the bowler to bowl the opponents out. However, real life should not be like cricket. We should never prioritise attacking others for what they believe above the pursuit of what we hold dear, and we should focus on creating bonds of friendship over belittling and excluding others.
鈥淭here is much to be gained from taking heed of the Rabbis of the Talmud, who taught that true wisdom is the capacity to learn from every person, and genuine heroism is the ability to turn an enemy into a friend.鈥�
Rabbi Nicky Liss on behalf of Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis听
鈥淭his Unity Statement sealed by eminent faith and community leaders, who have worked tirelessly and with great dedication for the betterment of society is a beautiful and meaningful reminder to us all on the values and power of unity, and that this beautiful game is really about building trust and developing people from all backgrounds.
鈥淚 found the true meaning of cricket in a wonderful book about the purpose of life and valuing others: 鈥楾o go beyond race, culture and nationality and position ourselves as humans without borders, with a vital commitment to protect man and environment; To fight discrimination in all its forms and support all forms of inclusion; To respect differences that make us unique; And to promote interaction among people of different cultures and beliefs.鈥欌��
Mohammed Sadiq Patel - Founder of Heaven Help Us Cricket Club
鈥淭he spirit of playing good sport is clearly manifest in the tradition and example of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him (pbuh). The Beloved Prophet (pbuh) encouraged the playing of healthy sports that requires people to demonstrate good sportsmanship and good character. Spiritual training is the underlying force behind physical training and sportsmen are encouraged to continuously work hard to suppress their egos, which in effect sums up the spiritual pathway of a Muslim.鈥�
Gulfraz Riaz 鈥� Chair, National Asian Cricket Council
鈥淯se today to look carefully at yesterday to ensure that the tomorrows are better for our children and the children's children.鈥�
Lonsdale Skinner 鈥� Chair, African Caribbean Cricket Association听
鈥淢utual understanding and respect underlie all positive human endeavour and this is clear in the field of sport. Long may such activities bring people together to strengthen friendships, inspire us to stretch beyond our apparent limits and bring joy to many.鈥�
Emma Slade a.k.a. Ani Pema Deki - Buddhist nun of Drukpa Kagyu Lineage听
鈥淲hen you play the wonderful game cricket, it doesn鈥檛 matter who you are, where you come from or what you do, what matters is the ball being bowled and the batter batting. The playing field Unites us for a common purpose on the field and this is exactly what we should do off the field. When communities join together for a common ambition we can truly make a difference and make the world a better place and that鈥檚 exactly why I鈥檓 supporting this initiative.鈥�
Chanda Vyas - Hindu Priest
鈥淭oday, on this field, and on millions of fields like this one, we come together not divide by the colours and logos on our shirts. We come together, united by the hours of tireless effort and dedication on the journey behind us. We come together, united by the dedication, drive and commitment to be the best possible versions of ourselves.鈥�
Scarborough College
鈥淲e learn through play, by emulating what we see. We learn physical engagement, balance, hand eye coordination, passion, our limits, aptitudes, likes and dislikes.
鈥淲e learn about ourselves. As importantly we learn about each other. We all need to play. It鈥檚 in our nature to look for connection and games strengthen our minds, bodies and spirits. They strengthen our resolve, our resilience and our sense of justice. They deepen our understanding of victory, defeat and parity. We learn to accept responsibility for the choices we make during the game.
鈥淲e are all these things and so much more. We all learn through play and we all wish to thrive throughout our lives, leaving an open door for all those who follow.鈥�
Colin Salmon, Chair, Green Park Foundation
鈥淭he beauty of the Unity Statement is its simple focus on how kindness and equality speaks to the heart of all belief systems, its power is it has brought together more faith leaders than anything of it kind before, its impact will accelerate on speaking truth to those powers and aligning their influence to make real accountability a blessing to benefit those for whom equality can no longer remain a dream.鈥�
Raj Tulsiani 鈥� Chief Executive Officer, Green Park
鈥淭his Unity Statement demonstrates cricket鈥檚 ability to bring people together, and to connect communities. Our sport can be an immense power for good. By working together, we can ensure that cricket really is a game for everyone.鈥�
Tom Harrison, Chief Executive Officer, England & Wales Cricket Board