"Refugee-Composed Cricket Squad, Neuland Lions of the HTB, Makes History as First Hamburg Team"
New Cricket Team for Refugees Launches at Harburg Sports Club
A unique sports project, the Neuland Lions Cricket Team, has been established at the Harburg Sports Club (HTB) in Hamburg, Germany. This initiative aims to help refugees integrate into the local community through the sport of cricket, which is relatively less common in Germany but popular among many immigrant communities.
The addition of the Neuland Lions has increased the number of members at HTB to 78. The team, composed of residents from the DRK initial reception center in Neuland, began their official HTB league play in the indoor winter round on the Jahn height.
HTB views its role as more than just a sports provider, aiming to contribute to social cohesion in the neighborhood. Cricket has been played at HTB for many years, with the department previously having 63 members. This special cooperation was initiated by HTB, the Cricket Hamburg Association, the Hamburg Sports Association, and the DRK.
The athletes pay a reduced membership fee out of their own pocket, and until recently, they trained with borrowed equipment from HTB. However, on Thursday, they received a complete cricket starter kit worth 1,000 euros from Siegfried Franz, president of the Hamburg Cricket Association.
Torsten Schlage, the managing director of HTB, expressed pleasure with the initiative of the Hamburg Cricket Association to organize cricket training for the residents of the DRK initial reception center in Hamburg Neuland. Cricket is virtually unknown in Germany but is more popular than football in many countries, including Afghanistan, where 15 to 20 participants regularly attend HTB trainer Suresh's cricket training sessions.
The Neuland Lions often organize training sessions, friendly matches, and cultural events that promote inclusion and cross-cultural exchange. The team also collaborates with local organizations that support refugees, helping players with resources related to daily life, education, and integration.
The first cricket team consisting exclusively of refugees has started operations at Harburger TB. On Sunday, September 1, the Neuland Lions will participate in their first tournament at the THCC Rot-Gelb e.V. pitch. The project provides refugees with opportunities to engage in physical activity, build social connections, and learn teamwork and discipline through cricket. By participating in the team, refugees get to meet people from diverse backgrounds, enhance their German language skills in informal settings, and foster a sense of belonging while adjusting to life in a new country.
If you want to get involved or learn more, contacting local sports clubs or refugee support networks in Hamburg could be a good first step. The Neuland Lions Cricket Team is more than just a sports club—it is a social bridge that empowers refugees, encourages community engagement, and enriches Hamburg’s multicultural fabric.
The Neuland Lions, though focusing on cricket, embody a mission to promote other sports among refugees as well. Indeed, the team is planning to organize friendly football matches to foster further social integration and cross-cultural exchange.
Moreover, as football is widely popular across many countries where most of the Neuland Lions originated, it serves as an excellent platform for language and cultural exchange during matches and training sessions.
