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New cricket club bounces into Squamish

'Anyone and everyone is welcome,' says vice president.
1Channi Singh (Left) donates equipment to Rudi Botha (right) copy
Channi Singh (Left) donates equipment to Rudi Botha (right).

A few local cricket players have formally started the process to create a cricket club in Squamish.

Rudi Botha, Taurean McCarthy and Ben Cole began working together last fall to create the Squamish Cricket Club. The club is currently looking for community sponsors and is looking ahead to spring to host its first practices and training.

McCarthy, who serves as vice president of the club, said that last summer he joined in on a local game near Howe Sound Secondary. Eventually, he met Botha, and they quickly saw a growing desire for cricket in Squamish.

"We got talking about it and it kind of cemented in my mind that there's enough appetite in Squamish for a cricket club," said McCarthy. "We went through the incorporation process in November and we applied to the Squamish Community Foundation and we got a grant from them, which allowed us to get off the ground."

Though Botha, McCarthy and Cole all have played cricket before, Cole, the secretary of the club, said they are focused on building community.

"It doesn't really matter if you don't know anything about cricket, we're just trying to build community and we're trying to kind of promote healthy community connection through cricket," said Cole. "I think especially in the current climate we're going through with COVID, there's a lot that's kind of keeping us apart and I think anything that kind of brings us together right now is sort of worth putting energy into."

With that, Cole said that the club will be very inclusive and will invite anyone of any gender, sexual orientation, race or culture to give it a shot. Cole said this also includes all skill levels.

"No experience necessary, that's our moniker. All welcome," he said. "The representation in cricket is so multicultural, multicoloured and multi-everything. It's a really cool game and atmosphere."

"It'd be fantastic if we get lots of women involved… [and] just people, in general, that kind of represent Squamish which is getting more and more multicultural."

McCarthy said they are currently talking with Brennan Park Recreation Centre in order to secure field allocations. After they secure those, they will hopefully host practices two times per week so people can come and try the game out for themselves.

As for equipment, both Cole and McCarthy said that the club is trying to build up its own stock through donations and that new people won't have to necessarily try and secure the equipment before trying out the sport. Recently, Channi Singh, the owner of Squamish Green Taxi, donated a large amount of equipment to the club, said Cole.

"Normally the practice is that the players bring their own equipment, but it'd be good to have that equipment available to make sure that we're not kind of segregating people from lower-income backgrounds and to make sure that we're open to everyone," said McCarthy.

Eventually, both McCarthy and Cole said there will be a minimal fee associated with the club to go toward field use, equipment and insurance, but initially it will be free for newcomers.

"Come out in the spring and enjoy the game," said McCarthy. "Anyone and everyone is welcome."

For more information and updates about the club, visit its Facebook page or send a message to squamishcricketclub@gmail.com.


















 

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