Some partnerships find you at exactly the right moment. When the South Asian Cricket Academy approached us to create the playing kit for its inaugural Women’s Programme, we didn’t need long to think about it.
SACA was founded to address the under-representation of British South Asian players in professional cricket. Through its work as a non-profit, it has identified talented players and opened doors that might otherwise have stayed closed. This summer marks a new chapter: the launch of its first-ever women’s programme, bringing together a squad of 15 players from across the country to compete against professional Tier 1 county second XIs throughout the season.
At Lacuna, we know that representation matters. We know there are still barriers in women’s and girls’ cricket; barriers to access, to progression, to simply feeling like you belong. The SACA Women’s Programme is built to challenge all of that, supported by Take Her Lead, who will provide advisory and holistic support to players through a team of experts in women’s high performance. And here at Lacuna, we are incredibly proud to play a part in it.
When SACA Founder Dr Tom Brown announced the squad, he described the programme as “an important opportunity to help talented British South Asian female cricketers realise their ambitions within the professional game,” adding that “creating opportunities, visibility and pathways for players who have historically been under-represented is central to SACA’s mission.” We couldn’t agree more.
Dr Tom Brown was also clear that the women’s kit should echo the men’s design, giving the programme a unified identity, while having its own distinct, feminine character so the women felt the kit was genuinely theirs. Working alongside the team and programme partners, the brief was clear from the start: performance and inclusivity, together. The squad represents a range of South Asian cultures, backgrounds and traditions, and it mattered that every player felt comfortable, confident and part of something shared.
Yogi Deogan, Programmes Lead at Take Her Lead, captured it well: “As advisors and collaborators to the SACA Women’s Programme, ensuring the players had access to a female-fit kit was a key priority. With a squad representing a range of South Asian cultures and traditions, it was vital that individual needs were considered without compromising team unity. Lacuna Sports has been exceptional in delivering inclusive, high-quality kit that allows every player to feel comfortable, respected and part of the team.”
The finished design centres on a black base with vibrant yellow detailing, the striking SACA lion logo, contemporary graphic elements and complementary side panelling. It gives the players something to wear with pride; a shared team spirit as they begin this new chapter together.
The kits were delivered at the squad’s first training camp on 3rd June. Their verdict was immediate and unanimous: “We LOVE it.” Since then, the players have been sharing images across social media, and the anticipation building around the programme has been brilliant to watch.
Earlier in the month, we headed to Harrogate Cricket Club for the team’s inaugural fixture against Yorkshire. The weather had other plans unfortunately and the match was washed out, but the energy around the programme was impossible to miss. Something is building here.
For us, this is about far more than kit. It’s about showing up for an initiative that is actively creating opportunity, visibility and belonging for women in cricket. The launch of the SACA Women’s Programme is a significant moment, not only for the players involved but for the sport as a whole.
We’re genuinely delighted to have been trusted to create their first-ever playing kit and we cannot wait to follow their journey this season.
