Fans in Egypt prepare for the Cricket World Cup
Cairo’s cosmopolitan nature is to be on show again next week, when thousands of cricket fans descended from the former dominions of the British Empire tune into the Cricket World Cup being played on the islands of the West Indies.
The Yanks had their turn last month with the Superbowl extravaganza; last year the world was head-butted by the Football World Cup and now it is the turn of the sport that arguably takes the longest time to play a match, which will stage the longest tournament, running over six weeks.
Having had first hand experience of Caribbean cricket, both as a player and from the press box, you can believe me when I say that it will be a long, long carnival of street parties, fuelled by rum and any makeshift kitchen pots and utensils that can serve as an instrument. Ahhh, calypso cricket, I hope they survive.
The headquarters of cricket in Cairo is the Mena House Oberoi Hotel. The grounds of the hotel host a vibrant league every Friday, made up of six teams, which is in its third year. The core of the players are Indian nationals or from the Bohra Indian community who have lived in Cairo for generations.
This home-grown team, Mufadal Cricket Club, are the defending champions and will most likely face a strong Indian team in the final at the beginning of April. The other four teams in the competition are British Gas, The Pakistan School, Cairo Rugby Club and Alexandria Cricket Club.
Mr Ajay Mehra, a steady bat himself, is the Vice President of Oberoi Hotels in Egypt and one of the driving forces behind the organisation and steady growth of cricket in Cairo.
“We recently had a visit from the South African Development Officer who was impressed with our organization and excited about the prospect of developing cricket amongst the many British schools in Cairo, Mr Mehra said.
“With help from the British Community Association, we are endeavouring to become an affiliate member of the International Cricket Council (ICC).
“Already there are 17 African countries under the South African cricket umbrella and registration as an affiliate member would mean that we would receive assistance with equipment and coaching, Mr Mehra said.
One of the world’s most popular team sports, cricket has been played on an international level from the mid 19th century. This long tradition is today manifested in modern stadiums packed with seventy or eighty thousand fans, though with the continuation of many quaint traditions such as having tea during the match; not arguing with an umpire or even the unremarkable seven cm high urn that allegedly contains the ash of some burnt pieces of wood, which is the games most hallowed prize.
Dubai, UAE, is the headquarters of the International Cricket Council and for many years the Test playing countries have sent international teams from Pakistan, India, Australia, South Africa, England, New Zealand, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to competitions in the satellite city of Sharjah.
The World Cup matches from the Caribbean will be transmitted to Egypt via Dubai. They will be available on either Fox Sports or Ten Sports, both of which come with a Pahla satellite package. (The office in Alexandria can be reached on (010) 632 1295 and you can get hooked up before the start of the tournament on March 11th.)
Cricket, you see, is more than just a game, it is a metaphor for life, which I think is well summed up in the cricketer’s bible, Wisden, on its obituary page when it wrote: POORE EDWARD, who died after being bitten by a rat at Haifa, Israel, on June 29, 1991, aged 42, was a popular and eccentric spectator on the grounds of the county circuit. He spent his time at English cricket grounds when he was not roaming the world’s trouble-spots. When he died, he was helping to run a hostel in the Arab quarter of Jerusalem. His ponytail and frequently bare feet successfully disguised the fact that he went to Harrow and was a great-nephew of Brigadier General R.M. Poore, who once scored 304 for Hampshire.
World Cup cricket will be on the big screens at the Cairo Rugby Club in Maadi and the BCA Club in Mohandiseen, where I am sure a very competitive spirit will endure amongst the members who no doubt will have a little flutter on their tournament favorite.
And for my money it is of course the current World Champions, Australia, but in the spirit of cricket, how sumptuous it would be to see the hosts themselves, the West Indies, win and continue the party.
