by: TN Media News:
Efforts to raise the profile of cricket in Riyadh are paying off with ever more Saudis and expatriates taking up the sport. The popularity of the game has increased significantly in response to a Riyadh Cricket Association promotional campaign in the region.
Since its formation in 1980, the RCA, an affiliate body of the Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation, has been working to raise awareness of cricket in Riyadh and the central region. And the association has received considerable backing from its patron-in-chief, Prince Abdulaziz bin Nasser bin Abdulaziz.
In its own publicity material, the RCA, which has been affiliated to the International Cricket Council since 2003, said: “Our aim is to maintain our status as one of the pre-eminent cricket associations of the SACF. This desire to become the association of choice means that we must continually push the boundaries of excellence in the central region.
“The vision is to ensure that every interested player is introduced to the game and is given the opportunity to progress through a structured coaching and training program. “The association wants every player, team, and committee member to perform to the highest level according to their ability while playing within the spirit of the game.”
Association officials have targeted youth, and the RCA Cricket Academy delivers a coaching program titled Chance to Shine. But the RCA relies on the hard work of its members for the ongoing promotion of the game. “The RCA would like to invite and encourage any members to come forward and help us to deliver these challenging targets.
“In addition to this, we also need to welcome new partners and sponsors to help us to raise much-needed funding to ensure that we not only achieve our on-the-field objectives but can also support our cricket promotion and development program,” the association added.
RCA leagues are divided into the Riyadh, Al-Kharj, and Huraymala zones with their respective clubs organizing matches. Mohammed Azimooddin Abdul Rahiman Karajagi, head coach of the RCA, told Arab News: “I have seen cricket being played in this region for almost 25 years now.
“In the beginning there was very limited opportunity to play the game by expatriate communities from the South Asian countries — they would gather at some open space for a friendly match. “Then club cricket started and now the RCA is doing a lot for the development of cricket in Riyadh.
“Several of the RCA players have made it into the Saudi cricket team that this year and last year won the ACC (Asian Cricket Council) Men’s Challenger Cup,” he said.
Cricket, one of the world’s oldest sports, has been played in Riyadh since the 1970s — mostly by expats from South Asian countries — but Saudi officials are aiming to drive its popularity in the country toward new heights.
