For the first time in Wooster’s cricket history (that dates back to the 1990s,) the College’s cricket team participated in the international Chivnarine Chanderpaul Trophy held in Florida from March 17-21.
The team consisted of 15 players representing Pakistan, Bosnia, India, Nepal, Zimbabwe and the United States.
Coach Graham Ford accompanied the team on the five-day long tour during which the team played matches against Ohio State University, University of Saint Cloud and York University from Toronto, Canada.
Participation in the tournament has culminated into a growing cricket culture at The College of Wooster.
Cricket teams from George Washington University and Carnegie Mellon University visited Wooster this past weekend and played a triangular cricket series.
“Participating in the Shivnarine Chanderpaul Trophy enabled us to contact cricket clubs from other colleges and invite them to Wooster,” said Wooster Cricket Club Vice President Maaz Khan ’10.
Amongst other outstanding performances, Anoop Parik ’10 and Shiladitya Roychaudhuri ’11 scored 40 runs each in the first match against George Washington University.
In the second match against Carnegie Mellon University, Khan scored 81 runs and took three wickets while Roychaudhuri, once again, played a spectacular inning of 54 runs. Wooster Cricket Club President Omer Ijaz ’10 claimed four wickets while Tamour Ishraq ’12 took three wickets. Wooster Fighting Scots are scheduled to visit George Washington University next week.
“Not winning tournaments must not be construed as losing,” said Ijaz. “It is through the continuous support and encouragement of President Grant Cornwell that we were able to participate in the national cricket championship and arrange cricket series at home,” he added.
Active participation in cricket by local Americans, including Danny Tomes ’11 and Ian Carlin ’11 who were part of the team for Florida, has been a milestone in the cricket club’s history.
“It demonstrates the involvement of locals in international sports and intercultural engagement at the College,” said Khan.