I was reading a series of articles about the cricket being
played in the Latin American countries. I have heard about the Argentine side
and I know by now, they seem to be the best side in the region. The ICC has
been conducting America’s tournaments here, and many counties, known for their
football acumen has fielded their teams here.
In the last Americas championship, in division three, Belize
won with Peru gaining a runner’s up trophy. Then again I stumbled up on the
Peruvian cricket team, and started researching about their cricketing
development. It is very interesting, as this country has a colorful history and
they are always fond of sports too. They had participated in the 1970, 1978,
1982 football championships and has produced numerous football icons like
Teofilo Cubillas,Hector Chumpitaz and Hugo Sotil. They have a vibrant soccer
culture out there and have performed brilliantly in tournaments like Copa
America too.
The Peruvian cricket Association website says cricket has
been played there since the last 150 years. Still it seems not at all popular
there. They have a domestic cricketing culture, comprising 6 teams-The kite
flyers,Lima cricket and Football club,Eidgenossen and Chak De. These sides
would be competing for the Chimu Adventures cricket Veloz trophy.They usually
had a cricketing season at the LCFC (Which is the sanctum sanctorum of Peruvian
cricket). These days Twnety20 games are played too, along with some foreign
teams playing against the locals. A vibrant expatriate population, mainly the
British,Indian and Pakistanis are there too.
Going through the performance of the national team in
various matches, I felt they need more infrastructure and promotion. The media
must take the initiative and promote the game earnestly. Talent is there, it is
very obvious.The Markham College has been doing a tremendous job here. They under-13 team won the South American
under-13 champion ship and it looks like a good sign.Many of them seems like
were born and brought up in the country too. Surely they are the future. Most
of the matches were pretty low scoring so peru need to concentrate mainly on
their batting and this will be vital.The senior team performed poorly in the
South American Championship, held at Buenos aires in 2013.They lost all the
games, and this tells us the importance of the basics. Most of the scores were
very low and they need to practice hard for their batting. Most of the names of
the Peruvian players who played here seemed anglicized (Tony Sanford,Harry
Hildebrand) unlike the Under-13 team ( Lewis Paredes,Diego La punte etc).It
means the upcoming generation is getting more interested in the game and taking
it more seriously.
Anyway we can take everything in a positive manner. I am
happy to say this country knows cricket for the last 150 years. What they need
is just a helping hand. Countries like India,
Pakistan,Bangladesh,England,Australia can help them. World Is getting very
small. We cannot hide inside a cocoon these days. We need interaction, hopes
and love and all the boundaries are shaking. If we can do this to this great
country, we may be speaking about another Sachin Tendulkar who was taught
cricket at the alleys of the small Peruvian town,Tacna.
Bravo champions !!
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