Cricket in Turkey
From TSP Wiki
Cricket in Turkey, in Ankara especially, has always been an ad hoc affair, just like this article.
Contents |
[edit] History
During the early 2000s, there have been various matches and two-day competitions between ad hoc teams comprising teams such as the Ankara All Stars, a Pakistan embassy team, METU and Bilkent University teams and the old blokes at the Red Lion Club (a team made up primarily of UK diplomats but also other Commonwealth types)
These matches were fun but ultimately meant nothing.
[edit] Becoming official
In 2007/2008 Syed Mahmud from Bilkent University got Turkish cricket organised. I have no idea how but Syed managed to get the government to actually appoint someone as the head of the Turkish Cricket Federation (not sure if that is actually the official title of the federation - I doubt that the bloke even knows).
At the first meeting between Syed, the government official appointed as head of the federation and various representatives of clubs in Ankara it was made very clear that our new Turkish Cricket Federation (TCF) president had never seen a cricket game in his life.
The meeting was surreal, our new president wanted to advance a sport which he hasn't even seen on the television. But at least he was enthusiastic.
The result of us becoming official in the eyes of the state is that the head of the TCF may be able to help us in getting places to play. But really the only meaning to all this is:
[edit] Turkey becoming an Affiliate Member of the ICC
On July 4, 2008, the ICC sent out a press release saying that Turkey, along with Bulgaria and Estonia had been voted in as affiliate members.
From the press release:
Cricket in Turkey was recognised by the Turkish government in December 2006 when it became a member of Turkey's "Federation of Developing Sports". In order to promote and develop the game of cricket, the Turkish Cricket Board (TCB) [1] was formed under this Federation.
The TCB has a national senior team which has its sights set on next year's ICC European Division 4 Championship. There are seven domestic teams, four of which are university based and play in two main tournaments each year.
All three countries will now receive funding and support from ICC to help them to continue to develop and grow the game.
Commenting on the successful applications, ICC Regional Development Manager Richard Holdsworth said, "Cricket in Bulgaria, Estonia and Turkey has developed well over a number of years. It is therefore very pleasing that ICC has accepted their applications and they now join the ICC family."
He added, "ICC Affiliate Membership will bring many opportunities for cricket to develop further in these countries. In addition ICC now being recognised as a full member of the International Olympic Committee will hopefully strengthen the culture of the sport in these new member countries."
Today's Zaman report on Turkey becoming an affiliate member.
[edit] Turkish National Cricket Team
One of the main aims of the Turkish Cricket Federation boss is to set up a national team to beat up countries like Armenia. We are ready to take up the challenge (if not the nationalistic baggage that goes with it). In early 2008 an ICC member came out to Ankara, inspected various facilities and spoke to various Turkish officials. In addition the ICC member was guest speaker at a meeting at Bilkent University, Ankara.
What our great leader has so far failed to understand is that many of us expats qualify to play for Turkey. If it is good enough for Bulgarian Naim Suleymanoglu, then it is damn well good enough for us middle-aged expats.
[edit] Turkey's first-ever tournament
Turkey played in its first international tournament in the European Division 5 Championship between September 7 and September 12, 2009, in Corfu, Greece. The team lost its first four 50-over matches to the Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece and Sweden but managed to post its first international victory on the last day of the tournament against Bulgaria. Report in Turkish from ANKA news agency.
All the scorecards and photos from the tournament can be found on the ICC website. The Turkey on Tour blog is a diary by players from the team chronicling their adventures.
The squad for the tournament in Corfu:
- Jonathan Clarkson (Captain)
- Hüseyin Şener Şen
- Mubashir Khan
- Athar Imran Opal
- Mohammad Razak
- Abdul Hamid Chohan
- Muhammad Aasim
- Colin Sutcliffe
- Imran Sharif
- Syed Ateeq Ahmad
- Christopher Wade
- Sajjad Haider
- Stephen Bryant
- Hunnain Durrani
[edit] Qualification rules
To qualify to play for Turkey you must have lived here for more than seven years continuously. Special dispensation can be given for those who have lived here for more than seven years but not continuously.
[edit] Local expat teams
[edit] Ankara
The Red Lions are a team of mostly British and Commonwealth expats but also includes a few Turkish players. It is loosely attached to the Red Lion Club. It isn't a very good team having not won a match in quite a long time (although it broke the losing streak with an eight run victory over Tomer XI on October 4, 2008). If you live in Ankara and have a vague notion of how to hold a bat then send an e-mail to Colin Sutcliffe: redlioncricket AT gmail.com and ask to be put on the Red Lions cricket e-mail list. The Red Lions Cricket Club blog can be found here http://redlionsankara.blogspot.com/
