Punjabi Tigers Here To Win

It’s a game we play every day back at home just like rugby here and to represent Fiji is a bonus says, Punjabi Tigers cricket team captain Dr Subhash Kumar.

From Arbab Niaz Stadium in Peshawar, Pakistan, PCA Stadium Mohali Stadium in India and Pakistani to Albert Park in Suva, Indian cricketers are eager to play for the Fijian team.

Kumar said his team-mates are from two international recognised cricket nations India and Pakistan.

“We have four players from Pakistan and three players from India, who work here and at the same time they are good cricketers,” he said.

“We would love to represent Fiji, if given the opportunity because we like the standard of the competition.

“These boys will want to stamp their mark in Fijian cricket history because they love it here and representing Fiji will be an honour for them.

“Playing here reminds them of home so most of the time when we prepare for a game, the players often imitate the names of the pitch back at home, so it’s like our home away from home.

“We know how rugby is big here just like cricket back at home. But to see the supporters and teams come every Saturday to watch feels like we are playing in front of our families back at home.

“We are also impressed with the talented players who play with us at the weekends some of these Fijian boys are too good.”

Kumar said when some of their players first arrived in Fiji last year, the first thing they asked was cricket and that indicated the interest they had.

“We love the competition in Fiji and we are always motivated to play and even these boys are always eager to play every weekend,” he said.

“In our country we play in the university cricket competition and some of us even play in the national cricket competition.

“We are really honoured to be here and to share our knowledge of cricket to the players here.”

Kumar added the Cricket Fiji Twenty 20 competition was well-structured and organised.

“The games are well organised and the weather is always good for cricket with the pitch so well prepared.”

Kumar said they definitely wanted to win the competition because they had been preparing well.

“The teams have improved and that shows their commitment in trying to learn new things every day,” he added.

Edited by Leone Cabenatabua

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