Plans emerge for £5m cricket facility in Worcester

Plans have emerged for the development of a £5m grassroots cricket facility in Worcestershire, aimed at enhancing accessibility to the sport across diverse communities.

The envisioned Moeen Ali International Cricket Centre, slated for construction on unused farming land just outside Kidderminster at Waresley Park, Hartlebury, will feature a cricket ground, pavilion, and indoor cricket centre.

Driving this £5m initiative are Roger Newman and Kabir Ali, who is Moeen Ali’s cousin.

Kabir’s Inner City Champs Association, led by former England fast bowler Kabir, aims to apply for planning permission from Wychavon District Council in April, with the hope to have the Moeen Ali Centre operating by the summer of 2025.

Kabir Ali, who played for Worcestershire and England like his cousin Moeen Ali, has experience in setting up the South Asian Cricket Academy in Birmingham and is currently on the coaching staff at Yorkshire.

The non-profit organisation, M5 Sports Management Group, responsible for overseeing the project, estimates that following the initial £5m building cost, an additional £1m per year would be required for ongoing operations.

Newman expressed hope in securing funding from entities such as the England and Wales Cricket Board, the MCC, and Worcestershire CCC.

In the next few weeks, residents will be asked for their opinions on the plans.