The Iran senior team took part in selection trials in Chabahar
in the eastern part of Iran (bordering Pakistan) in preparation
for the upcoming ACC Middle East Cup.
The first pictures of any official Iranian cricket practice to
be published globally, they show the reality of cricket in this
part of the world.
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The Trial match at
Chabahar, January 12 2005 |
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Along with financial support, the ACC has provided Iran with
cricket equipment and last year ran an Umpiring course. Iqbal
Sikander the ACC Development Officer for the Gulf region visited
Iran in December and noted the enthusiasm of the local
cricketers. “There are even lady umpires who have come through,
as well as a lady coach in the wings,” he said.
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Three Level I qualified
lady umpires from Iran |
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It’s hard to call it ‘grass-roots’ cricket in Chabahar where on
the two grounds granted by the government exclusively for
cricket, grass has yet to be planted, but in Tehran at least,
there are turf grounds, if not turf wickets.
“Iran shows a great deal of promise”, says Iqbal Sikander. “The
high-level officials I met during my visit assured me that they
will fully support cricket and while I was in Chabahar, in the
Baluchistan province which borders Pakistan, two grounds were
instantly allocated by the authorities just for cricket.”
Chabahar is a Free Trade Zone and the authorities have obviously
made the grounds available with an eye to attracting closer
commercial links with neighbouring Pakistan, which is all to the
good. There is every chance that local sponsors will come
forward to support cricket once they have more confidence in the
product.
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(Pictures courtesy of
Kambiz Rana) |
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“Iran comes to cricket with a fresh eye and no little raw
talent”, says Iqbal Sikander. Although as yet cricket has
curiosity value, as much as anything else in Iran, “if the
development of cricket is managed properly there is every reason
to think that Iran could be a force at Affiliate Level within
five years”.
Afghanistan, who joined the ACC in 2003 at the same time as
Iran, have shown the other Affiliates what is possible when raw
talent meets focussed desire. Should the individuals forming the
core of Iran’s cricket truly wish to advance and receive
regional and global plaudits, then they have made a positive
start.
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