Wales’ largest taxi and private hire vehicle operator is sponsoring Cardiff’s midweek cricket league.
Dragon Taxis, which is owned by Veezu, has pledged investment to support each of the 34 teams within the capital’s 100-year-old league.
The new sponsorship package will help towards funding the cost of league fees, match balls, ground hire, match officials and trophies, which can set teams back over £1000 for an 18-game season and cup competition.
Dragon Taxis’ 34-team sponsorship will culminate in the Dragon Taxis Cricket Cup at Newport Cricket Club on Sunday 21 August.
The club is one of Wales’ most diverse and many drivers for Dragon Taxis play within the cricket league, which is the UK’s second largest league incorporating three divisions and two cup competitions.
Mojeid Ilyas, diversity community officer at Cricket Wales, said: “Cricketers within the community are absolutely elated with this partnership between the Cardiff Midweek Cricket League and Dragon Taxis.
He added: “We’re really thankful that Dragon got in touch to support such an ethnically diverse cricket league as ours and that they are making such an effort to give back to Cardiff communities as well as some of their driver-partners who are currently participating in the league.”
Khawaja Ali Ajmal, secretary of the Cardiff midweek cricket league, said: “On behalf of CMCL, I would like to thank Dragon Taxis for sponsoring our 2022 season. This support will open many new opportunities for the cricketers, as well as helping them develop their skills.”
Glamorgan Cricket and Wales Golf hosted free late-night training sessions for those fasting throughout April’s Ramadan in order to further diversify and cater to South Wales’ extensive Muslim community.
Jack Price, regional director of Dragon Taxis, said: “We are always happy to support causes and interests close to the hearts of driver-partners, at the same time as supporting our local communities.”
He added: “Cardiff’s Pontcanna Fields is a hive of activity throughout the summer, and it would be such a shame to see this community activity impacted in any way. The league provides a great opportunity for driver-partners to get together and relax, with many younger players also within the league, being developed through the game.”
Dragon Taxis driver Ranpreet Singh, who plays for Sialkot Cricket Club within the league, said: “It’s not only our club that appreciates this donation, but the others in the league too. A gesture like this from Dragon Taxis goes a long way to helping teams to continue to compete, no matter their situation.”
Dragon Taxis has more than 1,400 self-employed driver-partners operating across Bridgend, the Vale of Glamorgan, Cardiff, Newport and Torfaen.
The firm is looking to take on more drivers to meet the surge of passenger numbers returning following the pandemic, with realistic passenger fares of more than £1000 per week.
Last month, Newport-headquartered Veezu invested £1.75m on a fleet of Toyota Corolla Touring self-charging hybrid electric vehicles to reduce its carbon footprint.
