The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Back home, cricket means an insect

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jan 31, 2006

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Back home, cricket means an insect

V. V. Subrahmanyam

But this under-19 team from the US is keen on testing the international waters in the Colombo World Cup. Can they bring cricket on par with baseball and basketball in Uncle Sam's land?

FOR STARS AND STRIPES: Former West Indian cricketer Larry Gomes with the US under-19 team in Hyderabad. — Photo: Mohd. Yousuf

HYDERABAD: A West Indian touch to the willow sport in the US! Board officials in the Caribbean might be still struggling to revive their cricketing fortunes but the Americans (of Asian origin, of course), seem to be fascinated by the Calypso touch to their grand plans of becoming a major force in the cricketing world.

Interestingly, an American, Stanley Stanford is investing $50 lakhs to revive West Indies cricket but has thought nothing for promoting the willow game in his own backyard.

From Windies

Well, this is a US sports team without a single white man. Five of the under-19 team (in the city to prepare for the World Cup (under-19) in Colombo next month) are from West Indies, and the rest have been pooled from in and around Central America.

And when the US team played against a local outfit under lights at the Lal Bahadur Stadium on Sunday evening, it was their first-ever full-fledged game in such an ambience. For back home, they play mostly on makeshift venues.

Gomes touch

Larry Gomes, coach and former West Indian Test star is primarily responsible for the team qualifying for next month's tournament in Colombo. He is hopeful of a good future for US cricket.

"It is great to see so many youngsters keen to play cricket. I take it as a challenge," says the 52-year-old.

"This is just the beginning. It is catching up fast and with four new national-level tournaments for different age groups things should be different by this year-end. US is also scheduled to host a 2007 World Cup match," he says.

Media Liaison Officer Syed Khurram echoes similar sentiments. "We have to make a beginning and there cannot be a better platform than the Colombo event," he asserts.

All for 20-20

For the average American, the sport is still alien plus they are not too keen on a game which takes too long a time.

The 20-20 concept has however fired their imagination, as it does not exceed four hours.

Captain Hemant Punoo and Vice-Captain Abhemanyu Rajp are grateful to the Hyderabad Cricket Association and to M.Ranga Reddy, former BCCI vice-president, for organising the `friendlies' before the big event.

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