Mentorship, one over at a time.

Raise the Bat is a New York–based, nonprofit tape-ball cricket league played at the Battery Park City Ballfields in Lower Manhattan. We started in 2018 and most recently hosted our third season in 2024.

Why we exist

South Asian–rooted cricket has been part of New York's neighborhood fabric for decades, but the on-ramps for young people — especially high schoolers and undergraduates — are thin. Our mission is to use the game we love as a vehicle for mentorship between professionals and local students. Teams are intentionally mixed. The conversations between innings are the point.

Why tape-ball

Tape-ball cricket — a tennis ball wrapped tightly in electrical tape — keeps the game accessible. No expensive kit, no helmets required, lower barrier to entry. It's the same format you'll find in Karachi parks and on Brooklyn rooftops. It's fast, it's loud, and it's New York.

Where & when

Battery Park City Ballfields, with the Freedom Tower as our backdrop. Season 4 plays between July 31 and August 9, 2026 — Saturdays and Sundays 12–6pm confirmed, with Friday evening slots (Jul 31 and Aug 7) pending. Exact match schedule will be released to registered players.