Queen’s University (Ontario) joins American College Cricket
Queen’s University, known simply as Queen’s, of Ontario, has joined American College Cricket . Queen’s,one of Canada’s top Universities, was established in 1841 and has about 14,000 full-time Undergrad, and over 3,200 fulltime Grad students.
The Queen’s Cricket Club is excited about playing in the 2011 American College Cricket Spring Break Championship and has begun preparations.
Club President & Team Captain Farooq Syed tells us about cricket at Queen’s:
The Queen’s Cricket Club is a group of cricket enthusiasts studying at the prestigious Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. The group has about 40 playing members mainly consisting of international students from all over the world. However, there seems to be an ever growing interest amongst the locals with more and more local members registering each year to the club.
The cricket season starts as soon as the school year begins in September with weekly cricket matches on the Kingston Cricket field located at the West End of the campus. However, because of the harsh Canadian winter outdoor events cannot be carried out after October and all cricketing activities are shifted indoors in the main gymnasium of the university.
Tape ball cricket dominates for most of the year because of the lack of facilities for students interested in the game but various tournaments and leagues maintain the high interest level in the game throughout the year.
Although most international students head back to their respective countries once the spring semester is over, students staying back usually participate in the Canadian summer cricket tournament representing the Kingston team. There have been several notable spectacular performances by our members in that league.
University cricket tournaments are much publicized all over campus and big games often attract reasonable crowds which makes for an enjoyable atmosphere.
The volume of international students originating from countries where cricket is a popular sport continues to rise at the university which is a positive sign for the club. It has also significantly improved the quality of players as the Club now boasts three players who have regularly played domestic cricket at the under 19-level back in their home country.
The club charges a membership fee annually depending on the number of members each year. At the end of each year elections are held where a new executive body is nominated. Apart from these activities the Queen’s Cricket Club also arranges for the screening of live cricket matches at the University for major ICC events.
If I were to sum up our club in one line, I would say it is a club that throws faculty and background rivalries out of the window and unites us together. It is cricket that is bridging all gaps.
Farooq Syed
Queen’s Cricket Club
Mohammed Farooq Syed, Captain,Queen's Cricket Club
16 Jul 2010, 12:39 am
It does not look like complete picture of cricket in Queen’s University, Kingston. I had been playing in cricket field past few years and I do not recognize the captain. I do not remember ever playing with tape ball either. I do not know if it has been changed lately. I also did not know if there is any Canadian summer cricket tournament.
Chris
27 Jul 2010, 2:45 pm
Hey Chris
Indoor cricket at the Physical education center has been regularly played at Queen’s at least in the last 3 years I have been at the university. Are you still studying at Queens ? You should join the club, we have a great year ahead of us !
Farooq
27 Nov 2010, 12:15 am
Study gives thumbs up to Canadian family intervention…
Lets work togheter to heal minds….