Cricket Continues to Grow in Manchester

One of the world’s most popular sports has found a home in Manchester.

A group of area men have been playing cricket regularly at Martin Elementary School, promoting a sport in a country very much unfamiliar with it as well as simply cherishing the game they love.

“We enjoy being close as a team, and just being together,” says Naz Sakib, who serves as treasurer for the Manchester Cricket Club and is a dedicated player.

Sakib, who like many of his teammates was born in Bangladesh, is among 14 local players who have brought their passion for the international sport to Connecticut. From late spring to the first snowfall, the players can be seen out practicing, competing, and maintaining the Martin grounds for hours on end.

The club members range in age from 16 to 48, and all either currently live in Manchester or have lived there at some point in their life.  One of their best players is Asif Hossain, who in his prime played for the Bangladesh National Team before moving to Manchester.

Up until a few years ago, the club struggled to find a place to play.  In 2008, they got approval from the town to make Martin their main ground, and after four years of success they are hoping the town will continue to let them use it in the future.

“We consider it to be a smooth field compared so some others, which makes for good cricket,” says captain Raihan Azad, adding that the players spend several hours a month maintaining the grounds to minimize bumps. So far it seems to be a perfect fit, and the group occasionally attracts teams from elsewhere in Connecticut to play tournaments.

On Sunday, the Manchester team defeated Middletown by a score of 125-94, and the club has more games against other clubs scheduled throughout the summer.

Now that a solid foundation has been established, the club is hoping to attract locals to come learn the game and get a chance to play.

“Our number one goal is to promote cricket for people in Manchester,” says Sakib. “Since we play so close by, we want to attract new players to the grounds to experience the sport, and eventually field more teams.”

Game play in cricket is centered on a bowler bouncing a ball from about 60 feet away from a batsman with fielders scattered around, much like the format of baseball. Each team can play eleven players per game, and teams score runs by making contact with the ball and running up and down the pitch. Sakib calls it very safe and competitive, and notes that although written variations can be confusing to newcomers, rules are easy to pick up when one actually starts playing.

The sport is an integral part of cultures in countries such as England, India, and Australia. With other major sports in the US, it is difficult for cricket to gain widespread popularity in America, although the United States does have a national team.

Those interested in trying out the sport or learning more about it can visit the club website at manchestercricketclub.com.