More than 450 people from the Islamic community and beyond commemorated the spirit of Ramadan at Lord’s Cricket Ground on Saturday night by gathering for a remarkable Open Iftar event.
The evening, which was staged in a partnership between the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB), the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and the award-winning charity Ramadan Tent Project, brought people together to pray, break their fast with a stunning iftar meal, and hear inspiring talks from special guests.
It gave everyone involved the opportunity to embrace the values of unity, compassion and generosity, often associated with Ramadan, in one of cricket’s most iconic locations. To increase accessibility, all tickets for the event, were free of charge and open to everyone to apply online with the places available being reserved within seconds of being made available.
England Men’s player, Saqib Mahmood said: “Bringing the local Islamic community and so many others through the gates of Lord’s was a really special moment—it just showed what cricket is all about. As someone fasting for Ramadan, I know how important it is to come together for iftar, and today really felt like one big family. Sitting on the floor and sharing a meal just made it even more special and was a powerful reminder of our shared connection.”
Since 2022, the ECB and MCC have partnered to host an iftar at Lord’s in the Long Room, though it has traditionally been a closed event for invited guests. This weekend’s Open Iftar marked an intentional step forward – welcoming in the public and giving many people their first opportunity to experience Lord’s.
The ECB’s Diverse Communities Manager, Sabah Hamed, who spoke at the event said: “When you see the transformational impact of inclusivity like this, with more people able to attend in a more accessible fashion, it’s incredible to experience. The memories from the evening will stay with me forever and shows the power of partnership.”
After guests had walked around the ground, the event started with welcoming words from Ramadan Tent Project hosts Farah and Alla. Four other leaders also spoke:
- Afran Akram, Head of Player Liaison, Essex Cricket and Main Committee Member, MCC
- Sabah Hamed, Diverse Communities Manager, ECB
- The Baroness Gohir OBE, House of Lords; CEO, Muslim Women’s Network; Founder of Muslim Heritage Month (a new initiative to celebrate the contributions of Muslims in Britain)
- Shazia Arshad, Head of Communications and Creative, Islamic Relief UK
After the speeches, the Imam, Ismaeel Asif led the call to prayer before guests broke the fast with dates and coconut water. Asif then conducted a prayer before the full range of food was distributed, cooked by the Head Chef at the MCC who remarked to the guests that praying alongside them and cooking iftar for them had brought a tear to his eyes.
Ramadan Tent Project Founder, Omar Salha said: “We are delighted to have partnered with ECB and MCC to host Open Iftar at Lord’s, especially knowing it was the first time many guests had ever set foot here. It was an incredible evening – full of energy, connection, and a real celebration of community. The power of sport and Ramadan to bring people together was on full display, breaking barriers and building bridges. This historic Open Iftar was even more special as it fell on International Women’s Day, featuring an inspiring all-female lineup of speakers and hosts.”
Carola Chiarpenello, first-time visitor to Lord's and to an Open Iftar commented: "I felt very welcomed as a first time visitor to Lord's and also to observe an iftar with the Ramadan Tent Project. I'm very grateful that I was able to come today. Hearing the call to prayer at Lord's was unexpectedly quite emotional and it sounded beautiful to hear while looking out at this beautiful cricket ground. I think it's a huge step forward to host these kinds of events in a city like London. The vegetarian food was so delicious and I learnt that it was the Chef at Lord's who made this for us - what an absolute treat."