News

European Student indoor cricket tournament launched – This February will see a new indoor 6 a-side cricket tournament come into the cricketing schedule for the best student indoor cricketers.
Ireland name their Squad for European student indoor cricket tournament

The Irish Universities will be captained by Arslan Afzal who has been part of the 2011 and 2013 title winning sides for GMIT; who having recovered from complete kidney failure which had him side-lined for 4 years, was considered the brightest prospect to play cricket from the West of Ireland. He will have Lakshan Senanayake as his Vice Captain and Wicket Keeper who has 1 Championship which he won in 2012. Experienced hands in Waqar Ul-Hassan and Muhammad Ali who both have 2 Indoor Championship winning medals also add to the sides’ strengths. Mitul Galav will spearhead the bowling with Iliff Sumit, who captained an unbeaten GMIT to his and their 2nd title in 3 years.

Nitin Bindal will manage the side that hopes to kick off this new Collegiate Competition with the Scottish Universities by avenging last June’s outdoor loss in Dublin.

1. Arslan Afzal (C), GMIT

2. Lakshan Senanayake (VC/WK), NUIG

3. Waqar Ul Hassan, NUIG

4. Ryan Sugrue, NUIG

5. Mitul Galav, NUIG

6. Liam Higgins, ITC

7. Hannan Iqbal, NUIG

With indoor cricket taking place in the European cricket off season it means that student cricketers can play free from the exam commitments that burdens them through the early weeks of the season and its popularity has led to the creation of a new tournament. The European Four Nation Student Indoor 6s will take place in Edinburgh on Saturday 16 February. The four competing nations are Scottish Students, Irish Universities, Dutch Universities and English Universities. The hosts will be captained by Andrew Brock of the University of Edinburgh, who is an accomplished indoor cricketer who led Edinburgh to the Scottish Students indoor 6s national title in February 2012.

The Dutch Universities add a European flavour to the tournament and have four players who have represented the Netherlands or Netherlands ‘A’ in Matthijs Luten, Stijn Allema, Olivier Lodder, and Steven de Bruin. The Irish Universities VI are managed by Barry Keane and will be looking to get one over the Scottish Students who defeated them last June at College Park, Dublin in the Gilmour Sports Celtic Cup series.

Phil Green, chair of cricket for British Universities & Colleges Sport is Team Manager of the English Universities team is upbeat about the new tournament “This tournament will hopefully fill a gap in representative University cricket, which has existed since the withdrawal of the Combined Universities team. Indoor cricket is a growth sport within the BUCS schedule, and I hope that the initiative of Iain Stewart and colleagues in introducing this event into the calendar is rewarded with a great display of indoor cricket at its best. ”

Although this tournament is the first of its kind and there will be a review of its success and place in the calendar after it is completed, enthusiasm for it is already high and tentative talks about it being hosted in one of the other participating nations in 2014 has already started. The English Universities may start favourites but the Celtic teams and the guest from the continent will no doubt be giving their all to challenge for the title as European Four Nation Student Indoor 6s champions.

Peter Searson
GMIT captain Arslan Afazal will also captain the Irish side
No