U of Minnesota Cricket names Team for the National Championship !

The players to represent the University of Minnesota at the 2011 American College Cricket Spring Break Championship have been announced,and they are:

Nirmalan Raviraj – Batsman
Suraj Pai – Batsman
Mewankumara Gunasekara – Batsman
Vikas Pandya – Wicketkeepr/Batsman
Vishal Yeliseti – Bowler
Mayuresh Rajaratnam – Batsman
Parth Kothari – All Rounder
Abdullah Nasari – Wicketkeeper/ All Rounder
Shantanu Chavan – Batsman
Aakash Jain – Batsman
Saksham Chopra – Batsman
Wasim Parpia – Bowler
Utsav Maheshwari – Batsman
Dhruv Khullar – Bowler
Mathuri Rama – Batsman

The team will be accompanied by their Coach Charles Peterson, who is also the Faculty Advisor.

For the 2010 Championship Coach Peterson hurriedly put together a team, and working with American College Cricket President Lloyd Jodah began the process of forming a cricket club. This time the team is prepared, and also happens to be one of the youngest in the Championship with an average age just under 20 !

The University of Minnesota has the distinction of being the only US or Canadian University known to have a Credit Course in Cricket. Instructor Charles Peterson explained :

“‘Beginning Cricket’ is designed for those who have little or no knowledge of this international sport. The objectives are to teach the fundamentals of cricket, explore the structure of international cricket and current events, briefly explore historical development, as shaped by 17th century England, and social relevance of colonialism and Apartheid. Students are introduced to hardball gear, but skills, drills and matches are played with softball equipment. The class is 12-14 weeks, depending on the calendar. By the sixth week, students regularly participate in limited over matches. After 14 weeks, they are well on the way to becoming cricket converts.”

The School of Kinesiology has offered the one credit cricket class, PE1071 ‘Beginning Cricket’, every semester, since Fall of 2005. According to Brandi Hoffman (Physical Activity Program Director) at the University of Minnesota School of Kinesiology, cricket has been one of the most popular physical activity offerings. Students consistently join the ‘Wait List” with the hope of getting a place. The University of Minnesota’s “Beginning Cricket” course was pioneered by Nadir Bhudhwani, Ph.D (U of Minn).

American College Cricket is working on getting more Colleges offering cricket credit course, and Instructor Peterson is currently advising staff at another major University on designing and implementing a course.