No crickets chirping here, UHCL Cricket Student Association event draws crowd
Cricket is not a well-known sport in the United States. Overshadowed by football and baseball, cricket does not share the same success in the U.S. Around the rest of the world, however, it is one of the most popular sports, and cricket is gaining a foothold in the U.S.
On Saturday, Feb. 18, the University of Houston-Clear Lake Cricket Student Association (CSA) held an event to encourage people to play cricket. The event featured eight teams of eight players.
Rules were modified for this game, including the female power play. This year, the event had a rule where all teams must have at least one female player, to make each team more inclusive, explained Vadhi Raj, co-president of CSA.
“The girls power play is where the girl(s) will face each other on each team, and one will bowl while the other bats,” said Sandeep Kumar, president of CSA, who then pointed out that as an added bonus, “points are doubled.”
The ball used was not a standard cricket ball. Instead, the teams used a tennis ball wrapped in tape.
“We don’t want to damage the cars,” said Shishir Jindal, CSA Student Government Association representative.
The event started at 3 p.m. and ran until 10 p.m. on a closed off section of the parking lot next to the Student Services Building. There were crowds in a makeshift bleacher surrounding the playing field. At each crack of the bat, spectators and participants cheered as the ball went into the playing field.
In the crowd, the Spirit Squad was in attendance providing chants and learning about the game. Also in the crowd was Assistant Dean of Student Diversity Linda Bullock.
Bullock said cricket is important to international students “because it brings their tradition from home to here” and “gives them the opportunity to connect as a group.”
Cricket represents much more than a sport for these students.
“It represents bringing a little bit of home to here,” Kumar said.
Many of the players in attendance started playing cricket back in their hometown outside the United States, including female player Abhi Goli, computer engineering major on the Smashers team.
“I played cricket in my hometown, and it gives me a taste of home,” said Goli.
What makes cricket unique at UHCL is that “there is no sports culture” on campus Kumar said.
“[It] helps to have cricket on campus because it will factor in when selecting a university from the international perspective,” Kumar said.
With the popularity of cricket within the international student community, CSA has been trying to obtain funds and approval for a cricket field.
“Though this is unlikely to happen,” Raj said.
After hours of playing, the final match was set between the Clear Lake Eagles and the Houston Chargers. The Houston Chargers came out victorious over the Clear Lake Eagles, winning by 8 runs, dethroning last year’s champion.
Raj encourages students to come and try out cricket for themselves.
“Cricket is an opportunity to play in a fun-filled environment and promotes teamwork, and [students] gain knowledge of a new sport,” Raj said.
For more information on joining the UHCL Cricket Student Association, contact the CSA.
