The Sudbury Cricket Club (SCC) will be hosting the city's first softball cricket tournament this weekend.
The tournament will take place at Elm West Park, on White Avenue, in Sudbury. Games will run from 10 a.m.- 7 p.m. on Saturday, with the final beginning at 11 a.m. on Sunday.
Cricket came to Sudbury a few years ago when a few cricket enthusiasts started getting together on the tennis courts at Lockerby High School for some friendly competition. Over the past few years, the number of participants has gradually expanded, leading to the creation of the SCC in April 2009.
According to the club's website, the SCC is one of the most diverse and multicultural sports clubs in Sudbury, with members hailing from several countries, including Pakistan, India, Srilanka, Bangladesh, South Africa and Afghanistan.
“Sudbury has a really good (group of) multicultural people here,” said Aamir Iqbal, general secretary of the club.
And they have a wealth of knowledge to share when it comes to cricket.
“Most of us started playing at an early age. I started when I was eight,” Iqbal said.
He continued playing through college and university, and played in a league for many years while he lived in England.
“Quite a few of the players here are really good, they come from academies,” he said. “That's where we have an opportunity here, that these players, if they can actually give their time to us, we can teach in a better way.”
Garnering interest in the sport and teaching others to play in one of Iqbal's main goals for the tournament this weekend.
“We offer every individual in Sudbury the opportunity to come on and try cricket,” he said. An information booth will be set up at the tournament, and the following week, the club is planning to host a teaching session.
“It doesn't matter if it's only two or three people, we practise on these grounds every Saturday and Sunday anyway, so if they want to try, we're going to have a small session in between the games.”
A couple of the club's members will take the time to explain the game to the newcomers first, but Iqbal said they won't be overwhelmed with the rules right off the bat.
“They'll hit first and when they feel comfortable hitting the ball, then we'll tell them the rules and regulations.
“If you start telling them the rules and regulations, they're going to get really confused,” he laughed.
As for the club's future, Iqbal said he hopes it will continue to expand with the introduction of a kids' league, as well as a co-ed league next year.
For more information, visit www.sudburycricketclub.com.
