In a big step for Alabama, youth cricket comes to Pelham

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Balaji Varadhan loves cricket.

Since he moved to the United States in 1998, he’s made a point to find cricket in every place he’s lived, including California, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Alabama.

“I played cricket since I was about 10 years old. And it always used to be my passion,” he said. “So that’s how it all started.”

Varadhan is the reason this past summer, Pelham Parks and Recreation hosted their first cricket camp for boys age six to 18 to learn foundational skills and techniques of the game. 

Varadhan, who leads the program, had been in contact with Pelham Parks and Recreation’s director, Brian Cooper, over the years about advancing the game of cricket in central Alabama. As a result of those conversations, the department set aside a space for cricketers to practice batting in the Pelham parks’ batting cages. 

Part of Cooper’s role as director is to offer parks facilities to a diverse audience within the Pelham community and the greater area, which made the prospect of a cricket camp, known as the Alabama Youth Cricket Academy, a great fit for his mission.

“We just decided that the academy was a great way to get kids exposed to the game. We provided them with some space. We helped advertise it. It’s a partnership. It’s not just the academy, it’s Pelham Parks and Recreation and the academy partnering together.” he said about the collaboration.

Cooper hasn’t had too much exposure to cricket before this summer. He’s  observed at the park, and had some interaction with athletes in the World Police and Fire Games which were recently held in Birmingham. 

“That’s about the extent of my involvement with cricket though. I’m here to support the community.” he added.

A sport on the rebound

Cricket has a quiet history in the United States, and up until recently wasn’t visible in the mainstream. But for the first time after the game ceased in the U.S. during the Civil War, it’s making a notable comeback due to immigrants from cricket-playing nations revitalizing the game’s appeal.

In fact, the United States co-hosted the 2024 T20 Men’s World Cup along with the West Indies, and held matches in Texas, Florida, and New York. Given this momentum, Varadhan was motivated by requests in his cricket community to offer something to children looking to learn and play the game. 

When it comes to the curriculum, Varadhan was coached formally and was ready to pass it on to the next generation. Leaning on contacts in cities where cricket’s boom is well underway, he also enlisted Prashant Prabhat and Prasanna Bezawada, players in the Birmingham Cricket League with experience playing in India, to coach the camp alongside him.

“They have played very high level of cricket. So our in-house knowledge is plenty enough at this point of time,” Varadhan said.

Campers ranged in experience and exposure. Many of them mentioned watching cricket at home with their dads and playing with family. There were campers who are more familiar with the sport, like Srijan Meesala, a rising senior at Duke University looking to captain a team for the new intercollegiate cricket league. He took advantage of the opportunity to be coached and fine tune his skills as a batsman and wicket keeper.

Camper Aaditya Reval, who also came with experience, was excited to finally have proper facilities to play and learn the sport he loves so much. 

“I think it’s like a big step up from what I’ve been doing,” he said. “Being able to play like this, like having a proper field, like having all this equipment is a big step up for cricket in America, but it’s also specifically in Alabama. Because some places like Atlanta do have a big cricket scene, but I think it’s still growing here. And I think this is a big step in the right direction.”

Varadhan, his coaches, and campers are looking forward to cricket’s growth in Alabama. Varadhan plans to include a girls camp next year and is working with Pelham Parks and Recreation on a cricket program throughout the year, which would be a big win for Alabama. 

Vahini Shori is a Report for America corps member covering faith and culture for WBHM.