THE first cricket match in India was recorded in 1721 when a group of sailors gathered to play in Western India. Within nearly three centuries, there is no other place on the sub-continent where cricket is so successful in terms of the number of admirers.
Indeed it is referred to by some as India’s new found religion. This is what five local lads are looking forward to as they travel to Delhi later this year to play a series of 30 over games.
Sachin Soni, Ebrahim Haffegee, Sarith Ramlakan, Liven Singh and Prenil Premlall will be representing Durban North Sports Academy U14 cricket team at the tournament and are hoping to show just how good South African teams are.
Sachin Soni, who is the youngest of the quintet, is not daunted by his lack of experience.
“I’m hoping to play my natural game in Delhi. There’s no doubt it’s going to be tough but that’s what travelling to India is all about. The conditions will be very different but I’m confident the team will do well,” he said.
Liven Singh who travelled to India last year as part of soccer tour said one the biggest obstacles the team would face is the weather.
“The heat is a different to the one in South Africa. It’s very dry and that’s reflected on the pitches, which will probably favour spin bowlers,” the Northwood School pupil said.
Prenil Premlall said he was looking forward to follow in the footsteps of Sachin Tendulkar. “He’s revered in India and I’m hoping to emulate him on this tour,” he enthused.
Team manager Mahadhew Singh said the tour was all about exposing the boys to different cricket conditions.
“Two of the games will be day night affairs. We don’t play many day night games in South Africa at this level so they will have their work cut out for them. We have quite a good side and I’m confident we will show that in India,” he said.
Mahadhew appealed for anyone willing to sponsor the young team to contact him on 071 179 9176.
