ORGANISERS of the Blackburn Midweek Cricket League have warned that it may fold if it can't attract new teams in the future.

The league begins another season at Pleasington Playing Fields next month fearing that it could be next to suffer the demise affecting local league cricket.

In recent years, the Chorley and District League and the Burnley and District Amateur League have both folded due to a lack of support.

While the Blackburn Midweek League is in no imminent danger of folding, it has dropped from five divisions to two divisions and just 16 teams.

Now chairman Iqbal Bhai and umpire secretary John Lilley have appealed directly to players to support the league to make sure it continues.

"The future of the league depends on the support of players and teams," said Bhai who is also league secretary. "Local club cricket will survive and there will always be somewhere for the better young players to play.

"But where will the average player who just wants a friendly game of cricket and a nice social occasion find it when leagues like the Mid-Week league have folded?"

The pair admit the lack of work teams has hit the league hard - which is now mainly supported by the Asian community.

"My main concern for the future of cricket is for the local parks teams, whose only chance of a game is their workmates or friends in the evening during the week," said Lilley.

"In Blackburn, we have the midweek league which has been running for as long as I can remember.

"When I started playing in it, straight from school, there were five leagues of a very good standard. Most of the teams were made up of employees of local businesses.

"Sadly it has lost that support and involvement and last year it was down to two leagues.

"Most of the teams are made up from the Asian Community and only few work teams.

"If it wasn't for the present league committee working hard and sponsorship from local businesses, like Elite Blind UK and Nile Original Takeaway, the league would have folded many years ago.

"My plea is for the other parts of the community and local businesses to support the league by entering teams."

While the fixture lists for the forthcoming programme have been drawn up, Bhai said the league can still accommodate any new team wishing to join and certainly any new players.

"Last season we changed the format of the league and with earlier starts we were able, even with the bad weather during the summer, to have games of 16 and 18 overs per side," added Bhai.

"With the popularity of 20/20 cricket growing as a spectacle, here is an opportunity to play the same sort of cricket."

He added: "The facilities for cricket at Pleasington are improving every year, with the matting and the outfields helping to produce more exciting and safer games."

Anyone interested in entering a team or joining an existing team, ring Iqbal Bhai on 07970 216334 for more details.