Ishan Arora blocks out a delivery during a training session on Tuesday, June 11 for the Nanaimo Cricket Club, at their new pitch at Beban Park. They'll play their first game at the field on Sunday. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

back in town

‘It feels like home:’ new Nanaimo cricket pitch making league debut

Jun 16, 2024 | 6:58 AM

NANAIMO — After many years of the sport being on life support in the Harbour City, cricket is officially making a comeback.

A newly-installed pitch at Beban Park will be officially unveiled ahead of a Victoria District Cricket Association league game between Nanaimo and Metchosin on Sunday, June 16. Festivities begin around 10:30 a.m.

Nanaimo Cricket Club captain Shivam Mandloi said they’re excited to bring the sport back to Nanaimo and show off the local talent on offer.

“It feels like home to be honest,” Mandloi said on the pitch. “It’s just incredible, we’ll save a lot of time and it’s absolutely divine. Having home advantage is going to be the icing on the cake.”

Each team will bat once on Sunday for a maximum of 45 overs, with the game itself expected to span between four and six hours.

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Fans are able and encouraged to come and go as they please.

Mandloi said if onlookers aren’t sure what ‘overs’, ‘maidens’, ‘LBW’ or ‘silly point’ are, there will be plenty of help available.

“There are going to be a lot of volunteers, so if you have any questions just ask. Most of the people who are going to come over, they know from their childhood [about cricket]. It’s just like a religion in India, so ask your questions and you’ll get good answers.”

Amandeep Singh bowls to Pratheesh Suresh during a practice session at the new pitch at Beban Park. The facility now allows the local team to train in town for the first time since the early 2010’s. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Since installation in late May, the team has practiced on the facility two or three times per week.

During a site visit by NanaimoNewsNOW on Tuesday, June 11, while the central cricket pitch was in use by around 15 players, four softball games were taking place in the field’s respective corners.

Jaz Brar, a member of the Nanaimo Cricket Club since 2018, said the team hopes this is just the beginning.

“The cricket pitch is back so the sport is going to regrow in Nanaimo. It’s going to save us a four hour trip to and from Victoria. With that, we should be able to get more opportunity to meet more players and we’re already getting messages on our Facebook and Instagram…it’s getting noticed.”

He added in year’s past, the team has had to travel to Shawnigan Lake or Qualicum Beach to practice or play.

The Nanaimo team will host a handful more games through the summer at Beban Park, including one more at the end of June.

Around 15 players were out to train on Tuesday, June 11 with softball games also taking place at the same time on the expansive Beban Park fields. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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