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“I didn’t cry when I announced it. The tears came when I recorded a video and talked about singing the national anthem, which is one of the best feelings that I have had as a player,” exclaims Roberta Moretti.

Speaking to Cricket Financial Journal, the former Brazilian international women’s captain is referring to her decision to retire from cricket after a 12-year playing career.

“It took me a couple of days to talk to all the coaches, the board, my family and then I finally made the announcement to the team,” she says.

“It was a very sad moment for them, but funny enough, it was a very happy moment for me. I was really proud of my decision.”

While on tour to Rwanda with the national team for the Kwibuka Women’s T20 Tournament last year, Moretti felt that it was the right time to hang up the boots. In June 2025, she had been elected president of Cricket Brasil and the dual responsibilities of playing and administering had begun to take their toll.

“One of our coaches Julia Price, who was a player herself, told me that there’s going to be one day that you just know that you don’t want to do this anymore,” she says.

“Not because of physical or technical limitations, but because the transition to full-time administration work would become necessary.”

After her retirement announcement, she received a combined guard of honour from the Nigerian, Zimbabwean, Rwandan and Malawian cricketers, alongside her own teammates.

It was a highly emotional moment for Moretti, who admits to being touched by this special gesture. “It reminded me why I love this game so much,” she says.

“It’s not only because of the runs and the wickets, but how cricket brings people together and empowers them.”

Life as president

While life post-retirement has been “pretty normal”, her involvement with the game remains deeper than ever due to her administrative responsibilities. Her office in Poços de Caldas, the spiritual home of Brazilian cricket, overlooks the training centre.

“I actually live like five minutes away from the office. So, this is pretty much my house,” she chuckles.

“We have a new office for Cricket Brasil, which is absolutely gorgeous. We have a group of people working in the office every day and honestly it feels like I left one team and joined another team straight away, which is fantastic.”

However, there’s one thing that she misses dearly about post-retirement life. “I just miss hitting some balls in the nets,” she says. “I love to train; it was therapeutic to me. I think that I will still do that from time to time.”

Cricket Hubs

In a country of 213 million people, it is actually quite remarkable how a small town of 170,000 like Poços de Caldas, best known for its thermal baths, became a hotbed for the bat and ball game. It is a fascinating story of chance encounters and happenstance, which is worth telling in its own right.

Moretti confirms that while Poços de Caldas still remains the biggest hub of cricket in Brazil, the federation is keen to replicate its success elsewhere.

“Currently, we have two other main hubs, both in the state of São Paulo,” she says. “One of them is a small town called Aguaí. And surrounding that, we have another 30 schools that are participating in cricket programs.

“Plus, a short distance from Poços de Caldas, another hub in Botelhos is also growing rapidly.”

Elsewhere around the vast nation, there are hubs developing in Rio de Janeiro, capital Brasilia as well as Bahia in the northeast of Brazil. “We say that for a hub to be fully established and sustainable, it takes eight years,” she says.

“At this stage, they are all in different stages of development. But we believe that in four to five years’ time, we will have fully developed hubs with junior and adult competitions and proper grounds.”

Infrastructure

However, as with many other Associate nations, Brazil struggles with having adequate cricket infrastructure which Moretti characterises as the “main challenge”.

“The hardest part for us is to build proper infrastructure from the ground up, but thankfully we have a lot of support from local governments,” she says.

“Sometimes, we even receive financial support, but if not, they are still happy to provide us with facilities for free.”

Cricket’s inclusion in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics has also helped matters significantly. “Since we became part of the Brazilian Olympic committee last year, it has completely changed the profile of cricket in the country,” she says.

“We receive funding from ICC and our partners plus sponsors, but most of this goes towards grassroots development and establishing junior pathways. But with the Olympic committee support now, we can finally budget for high performance.”

This financial support equates to around $800,000 USD annually, which takes care of anything high performance related such as hiring coaches, player contracts, tournaments and training camps.

“When we first went to Rwanda in 2022 for the Kwibuka, that tournament cost us 10% of our entire annual budget,” she says.

“Nowadays, both teams can participate in various tournaments without one penny coming out of development.”

As for pitches, all cricket domestically is played on matting surfaces. “We bought some special mats from the UK last year,” she says. “And they are really good; they spin, the bounce is very realistic. But we need grass pitches to go to the next level of development.”

Currently, grass nets are being built in Poços de Caldas with the support of the Surrey Foundation and the Oval Cricket Relief Trust.

“It’s going to take another 8 to 10 months before the facilities are ready for use. However, we’re still a few years away from having structured competition and tournaments being played on grass pitches,” Moretti explains.

Participation and the men’s team

Last year, Cricket Brasil achieved a significant milestone, breaking the 100,000 barrier in participation numbers for the first time. “That number is pretty much 50-50 male and female participation; people who watched or played cricket on at least three occasions during the year,” Moretti says.

“Also, we now have more than 100 junior teams through the U13, U15, U17 and U19 pathways and around 12,000 kids participating regularly on a weekly basis.”

While the Brazil women’s team are the cricketing trailblazers in the nation, the men’s team is gradually closing the gap with increased investment. Although, Moretti concedes that the path for the men “is much longer.”

“Look, their cricket journey is just starting. We are ranked 89 now, compared to the women’s 29,” she says.

“We centrally contracted 11 of the 14-member men’s squad in August last year, plus the development team receives access to training, physiotherapists, nutritionists and therapists. The same thing that we provide the women; we provide the men now.”

And like the women, the men’s team have shredded the dreaded “expat” tag with almost all the new talent coming through the development hubs in Minas Gerais and São Paulo.

“When I started playing cricket for Brazil in 2014, the men’s team had one Brazilian. In 2019, we had maybe 2-3 Brazilians, but they were mostly reserve players,” Moretti says.

“But for our last tournament in the World Cup qualifiers, we had one Brazilian Pakistani guy that has been in the team since 2014 and everybody else was Brazilian-born and bred.”

In 2025, Cricket Brasil hired experienced South African cricketer Brendon Louw as coach for the men’s national team. “I think Brendon’s experience will help the boys go one step up and compete well in the upcoming South American championship,” she says.

“They won in the 2026 Central American Championships, so we have been looking forward to good results, at least within the region.”

The Rankings Quandary

Despite the positive growth and development stories, organising fixtures remains a challenge for the men’s and women’s teams.

The South American region is easily the least developed cricket region globally and contains the fewest ICC members, compared to its Asian, African or European counterparts. Plus, the rankings system acts as another barrier.

“We are going to tour Switzerland later this year,” Moretti says.

“But what is difficult is often higher ranked opponents are reluctant to play you because they want to protect their ranking. Why risk dropping down the rankings table by losing a game to Brazil?”

Therefore, Moretti wants ICC to step in and organise more tournaments for lower ranked associate nations, to provide fixture equity.

“We want to qualify for the Women’s Challenge Trophy in the next three to four years and crack the top 25 in T20I rankings,” she says.

“We are still a little bit far away from ODI status or playing countries like Scotland, Thailand or Netherlands, but I really like our trajectory.”

Future Goals & T20 World Cups

With regards to future goals, Moretti states that the top priority for her organisation is to build more infrastructure in the hubs.

“This will provide a competitive edge to all our teams, to become better. I think it’s extremely important,” she says.

“Furthermore, it will allow us to further develop our high-performance coaches for both senior and junior teams.”

Secondly, she wants to see sustainability implemented as a key pillar of Cricket Brasil governance.

“I always think that when I was a captain, I wanted to develop a team that could live without Roberta as captain,” she says.

“Then when I became a player, I wanted to make sure that I leave a team behind that can play without Roberta.

“So similarly, a very selfish goal of mine is making sure that when I leave as president of Cricket Brasil, the organisation continues to operate smoothly without me in charge.”

Lastly, Moretti would love nothing more than seeing the Brazil women qualify for their first ICC event, particularly with the T20 World Cup expanding to 16 teams from 2030.

“Look, we have to make the global qualifiers first. In the Americas region, we know how strong the USA team has been,” she says.

“So, it’s not going to be easy, but we’re talking about three more years of additional development and competition and our players travelling abroad to get more exposure and experience.

“I believe there’s still plenty we can improve.”

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As a wide-eyed child, Sanjay Krishnamurthi’s passion for cricket deepened in India and it’s where his career crystallised.

He once closely observed Sachin Tendulkar bat in Test match from the terraces, but the touchstone was India’s memorable 2011 World Cup triumph at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Fifteen years later at the T20 World Cup, Arizona-raised Krishnamurthi was feeling the adulation from the Wankhede crowd - quite the feat considering he was blasting their heroes to all parts.

Krishnamurthi joint top-scored for USA with 37 off 31 balls, bludgeoning a couple of sixes as the Americans briefly threatened the greatest upset in cricket history.

He eventually holed out, but the performance - and subsequent wins over Namibia and the Netherlands - cemented USA’s growing reputation after their breakout performance at the 2024 T20 World Cup on home soil.

“I loved India growing up and I still like watching them play,” Krishnamurthi, who moved to India with his parents when he was eight, told Cricket Financial Journal.

“In that moment, it was special to have opened the eyes of the fans and a lot of people in general that we have a good team and that we’re here to compete.”

Krishnamurthi has had a mixed bag in the current MLC season, but looms as a key in San Francisco Unicorns’ quest for a maiden title.

In their first season under new coach Cameron White, the Unicorns finished on top of the ladder and open the playoffs against Los Angeles at the iconic Oakland Coliseum.

As the ashen-faced fans in Mumbai can attest, Krishnamurthi has deadly hitting-power mixed with composure that makes him such a formidable white-ball player, especially in the death overs.

His best performance this season was on a tough pitch against New York where he hit an unbeaten 48 off 45 - the next highest score in the game was 21 - to lift the Unicorns to a five-wicket victory in a nervy chase.

Krishnamurthi once had a lanky frame and found hitting sixes difficult. As a junior cricketer in India, he played the role of an anchor and was deemed a very steady batter.

But when he moved back to the US to seek greater playing opportunities and also to study at university, Krishnamurthi focused on white-ball batting.

That meant an emphasis on getting stronger physically and he went about working with a baseball coach to further master power hitting.

In a team boasting some of the world’s most destructive batters, including Finn Allen and Matt Short, Krishnamurthi has made an impression on his Unicorns teammates.

“I’ve been very impressed with how he hits the ball and he is a hard worker,” Australian rising star Ollie Peake told Cricket Financial Journal. “He loves the game as well and loves talking about it, so I think there’s heaps of success to come on his journey.”

While his season to date hasn’t quite hit the heights he expected, a big playoff run would be another milestone for Krishnamurthi who at 23 has not entered his prime years.

Krishnamurthi is something of a pioneer for American cricket, part of the first wave of homegrown heroes for a new generation of fans in a country that has so many big dreams attached to it.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for us younger players who have longer careers ahead to inspire the youth to pick up this game,” he said.

“The way that cricket has been growing in this country and the traction that we’re getting, I do think that it’s possible for the US to one day win a World Cup.”

Some of his peers at San Jose State University, where he is in the final stages of a computer science degree, might be oblivious that they hit the books with an international athlete.

But Krishnamurthi and his American teammates might not be too far away from the limelight.

Almost exactly two years from now, Krishnamurthi could very well be leading USA’s charge at the Los Angeles Olympics with cricket making its belated return to the biggest stage in sports.

The USA men’s team are almost certain to automatically qualify as hosts with the tournament to be played on a Pomona ground which recently saw its first hit out during the MLC.

“It’s very exciting. I think the Olympics could inspire kids of all ethnicities to pick up the game” Krishnamurthi said.

“At the very minimum, the average American will at least know what cricket is and that’s a step in the right direction.”

Reducing next year’s ODI World Cup from 14 to 12 teams might be on the cards in a move that would anger Associate nations.

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Having beaten Ireland for an emotional first-ever women’s T20 World Cup victory, Scotland eyed a boilover of Sri Lanka and an automatic berth in the 2028 edition of the tournament.

But they fell short in a final over heartbreak at Old Trafford as Full Member nation Sri Lanka held their nerve to win by three wickets.

While they walked off disappointed, the gallant Scotland proved their worth at the expanded 12-team T20 World Cup, which has grown from eight in the first three editions starting in 2009 to then 10 from 2014-24.

The other Associate nation competing was the Netherlands, who in their T20 World Cup debut were competitive in matches against Bangladesh and Pakistan.

“Would have loved to have seen Scotland automatically qualify for the next tournament, but a win over a Full Member (Ireland) is great,” International Cricket Council head of global development Will Glenwright told Cricket Financial Journal.

“The fact that we had two Associate members qualify and compete in the tournament is great.

“That’s precisely why the board made the strategic decision to expand. It’s a recognition of the competitiveness of international cricket and the women’s game. It’s a really exciting time.”

While the 2028 T20 World Cup in Pakistan will again feature 12 teams, the 2030 edition will rise to 16 - the biggest increase in tournament history to date, reflecting the growth of women’s cricket globally.

“The decision to expand the women’s World Cup wasn’t just to create an ambition, it was a recognition that more and more women’s cricket is being played by our Associate members, so that justifies and motivates that expansion and investment,” Glenwright said.

“The members have responded by playing more international cricket. We’ve been working with those members that have qualified or are most likely to qualify by preparing them for international cricket.”

In some non-traditional cricket countries, the women’s game has been identified as the growth engine compared to men’s which often has to battle a more competitive sports landscape.

Thailand, ranked 12th in women’s T20Is, is a prime example but China’s re-emergence has also underscored this with their 42nd ranked women’s team having recently qualified for the upcoming Asian Games.

While it will be quite something to see cricket’s power nations and superstars competing at 2028 Los Angeles, the Olympic halo’s most significant impact is being felt beyond traditional boundaries.

For China, where Olympic sports are granted priority and resources, it’s been a game-changer with government investment being pumped into Chinese cricket

There have been other major developments around the world, including Rwanda, Bhutan, Indonesia and Uganda.

“It (Olympics) does legitimise our sport in the eyes of governments and sponsors, particularly in countries where there’s a really strong sporting culture, but also where cricket’s significance isn’t quite there yet such as China,” Glenwright said.

“The success of a country like Thailand has been great for other members to somewhat replicate their model.

“Rwanda is a great example and they’ve invested in the women’s game, recognising that it was a faster track to international representative cricket.

“They’ve also allowed them to own a space and create an aura….so that it's got women and girls at the forefront of the playing experience. It changes the whole dynamic of how you present the game.”

The only time that a women’s World Cup has been played outside a Full Member nation was in 2024 when political unrest in Bangladesh saw the tournament moved to the United Arab Emirates.

There are a number of Associate countries clamouring to one day host a marquee ICC women’s event. As the hub of cricket in Southeast Asia, Malaysia is ready to stage a T20 World Cup while Germany - an economic powerhouse with encouraging results in women’s cricket - have long-term goals.

“We’ve created that precedent in the men’s World Cups,” Glenwright said. “We’re starting to see more governments, on the back of the Olympic decision, invest in cricket infrastructure and seeing the value of ICC events such as the Emerging Nations Trophy being taken to emerging markets.

“To have nearly a quarter of our members hosting World Cup qualifiers last year is something that members should be proud of.

“Hopefully it leads to one day an emerging market hosting a women’s World Cup or T20 World Cup.”

Major League Cricket is set to expand into Canada with Toronto and Chicago to become the new franchises of the well-heeled American T20 tournament that will increase from six to eight teams.

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Apartheid was evil. To the people of the Caribbean, cognizant of their own history of slavery and colonialism, it was a cruel and unjust system that needed to be dismantled as a matter of urgency. Names Like Nelson Mandela, Winnie Mandela, and Steve Biko were widely known, regularly extolled, and immortalized in song. The South African authorities regarded them as terrorists. As far as we were concerned they were the world’s greatest heroes.

Offered the opportunity, many in the West Indies would have taken up arms against the South African tyrants without a second thought. They were, after all, the most despicable sort and it was therefore the duty of every person to oppose them at every turn. Anyone providing them succour, or who appeared to be legitimizing their corrupt regime was, in effect, no different than the oppressors themselves and were to be treated as such.

The governments and people of the Caribbean were at one accord on this matter of Apartheid, and leaders like Forbes Burnham of Guyana and Michael Manley of Jamaica were especially vocal in their opposition of the South African regime. Indeed, so strident was the Guyanese government that it cancelled the Bourda Test of England’s 1980-81 tour because Robin Jackman, summoned to replace an injured Bob Willis, had played and coached in South Africa.

The Gleneagles agreement, named for the Scottish city in which it was signed by the Commonwealth of Nations, stated: “The Commonwealth heads of the state have accepted it as the urgent duty of each of their governments vigorously to combat the evil of apartheid by withholding any form of support for and by taking every practical step to discourage contact or competition between their nationals and sporting organizations, teams or sportsmen from South Africa or any other country where sports are organized on the basis of race, colour or ethnic origin.”

Most Caribbean leaders, themselves fans of the great game and their great team, felt those words were open to interpretation. As far as the Guyanese authorities were concerned, however, the agreement meant Jackman would not be welcomed in their country and no team having him as a member would be allowed to play. Cricket, after all, was just sport; the Apartheid struggle was as fundamental as life itself.

“The Caribbean is 90 % black,” wrote Manley in A History Of West Indies Cricket. “Accordingly, the anti-apartheid struggle is both principled and visceral. To the members of the black diaspora, the oppression that continues unabated in South Africa has become the symbol of more than a tyranny to be overthrown. Apartheid points like a dagger at the throat of black self-worth in every corner occupied by the descendants of Africa.”

That was the kind of atmosphere that framed the decision by 18 West Indian cricketers to accept an invitation by the South African cricket authorities to play in South Africa in the 1982-83.

The squad was led by Jamaican batting stylist, Lawrence Rowe and counted several other players with Test experience in its ranks. Some of the more notable players were Colin Croft and Sylvester Clarke, both fast bowlers from the very top tier; outstanding, if troubled wicketkeeper, David Murray; Alvin Kallicharran, who was similar in pedigree to Rowe; and all-rounders Collis King, Richard Austin, Bernard Julien, and Franklyn Stephenson. Others like Albert Padmore, Derick Parry, Everton Mattis, and Alvin Greenidge had already played Test cricket but had not exactly set the world alight.

Plans for the tour were made in some stealth. With Ali Bacher unable to set foot in the Caribbean, former West Indian fast bowler Gregory Armstrong acted as his chief liaison. Negotiations and plans were conducted in clandestine meetings, with deceit playing a major role in maintaining secrecy. Indeed, there were players who went as far as to deny their participation in the tour even while at the airport waiting to begin their trip.

Not everyone in the Caribbean resented the players for choosing to go. The authorities, for the most part, were rabidly against the tour, but a sizeable portion of the common people understood the player’s plight. Times were hard and there was the feeling that you could hardly fault a man for utilizing the best options he had to provide for himself and his family.

The organizers, of course, wanted the best players. Luring the likes of Holding, Richards, Lloyd, Garner, and Greenidge would have been of significant advantage to the South African authorities eager to put the best possible spin on sporting relations in the country. But many of the best players immediately dismissed any idea of visiting such a vile place, while others declined the offer after first giving it some thought.

Some were adamantly scornful when approached. Michael Holding, for instance, expressed the depth of his disdain in Whispering Death, his first memoir: “I was deeply hurt and felt a strong sense of betrayal and even anger. Here was the whole world uniting in opposition to a system that dehumanized black people specifically because they were black and a group of young black people were breaching that unity.”

Contacted by a British Sunday newspaper while on tour in Australia, the Jamaican fast bowler did not hold back, “These men are selling themselves. If they were offered enough money they would probably agree to wear chains. They would do anything for money.”

Richards was not as strident: “The decision not to play there hadn’t been too hard for me.” Ali Bacher, former South African batsman and chief organizer of the tour not only made the great batsman a huge offer, “well over US$500,000,” but also gave him some assurances. “I was told that everything would be cool and when I signed, others would follow. I made the decision there and then that it wasn’t for me. The money was not a consideration.”

For others, however, the money was the major, probably even the single, consideration. Richards was the best batsman in the world by a mile. He would play for the West Indies for as long as he wished - so long as he could stand upright - and was not short of offers to ply his trade in first-class cricket the world over.

Many of those who chose to go were not as fortunate. There was one colleague, who, according to Rowe “had about five children, no house, no car, no job”. Nobody else was offered the gigantic sum Richards was offered. But the US$100,000 that Holding said was the most reliable figure he heard, was considerably tempting for men who were without steady income.

Rowe revealed that he was reticent when first approached, and actually told the organizers he wouldn’t make the trip. He was, at the time, captain of the Jamaican team, had hopes of regaining his Test spot and was not in desperate financial straits. The elegant right-hander was also one of the most popular persons in Jamaican society. He had a lot to lose. By choosing to go on the trip the players were, in effect, turning their backs on West Indies cricket. The life ban, which was the punishment dished out, was not a total surprise.

But the organizers came back to Rowe. The refusal of many of the major players to join meant the squad lacked star players and so his participation became even more vital to the feasibility of the enterprise. He considered his more deprived colleagues and felt some responsibility for him and for others in similar circumstances. His refusal to go could have had the effect of denying them the opportunity to better their lives.

Rowe also cited other reasons for making the trip. He claims to have had an interest in viewing South African society up close, and mentioned the visit of tennis player Arthur Ashe as example.

“Arthur Ashe,” remarked famous USA sports broadcaster Bob Costas, “was the most conscientious man I have met in sports.” Known as much for his commitment to social causes as for his ability as a tennis great, Ashe visited South Africa in 1973, much to the dismay of many opponents of Apartheid.

The following comes from www.arthurashe.org, the website of the Arthur Ashe Learning Center: “To expose the fallacies of Apartheid and serve as a beacon of hope, Arthur Ashe traveled to South Africa in 1973 to break the color barrier that existed there in tennis. He served as an example of genuine sportsmanship: compelling the stadium to be integrated when he competed, showing the subjugated populations that a black man could compete with the white man and using his popularity as a platform for awareness against the government’s discriminatory practices.”

Rowe was quick to add that he was not comparing himself to Ashe, but his concerns were similar to those of the great man.

Despite a few unsavoury incidents, like Croft being ordered to the back of a train, Rowe feels the rebels made a difference. “Black kids and white kids were on the grounds playing together. White kids ran out to touch us.”

He proffered a quote from Nelson Mandela, “Sports has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does, it speaks to youths in a language they understand. Sports can create hope where there was only despair. It is more powerful than government in breaking down racial barriers. It laughs in the face of all types of discrimination.” Those wise words exactly reflected how Rowe felt.

It turns out that the rebels lost the 50-overs games 2-4 that first 1982-83 season, while the two five-day games were shared 1-1. The next season was better for the rebels, as they won the limited overs games 4-2 and the four-game “Test” series 2-1.

The South Africans got a taste of the power and hostility of West Indian fast bowling, especially during a few scary spells from Sylvester Clarke. They were able to view the elegance and artistry of Rowe and Kallicharran, and the might of Collis King. They weren’t the best team the West Indies could offer, but they played at a high standard just the same.

In the meantime, the West Indies cricket juggernaut just kept rolling on. The side was so strong in those days, so many exceptional players kept coming through, that the Team seemed hardly affected by the loss of some high-class players. The team withstood the blow and it was over a decade before it suffered a series loss.

A number of the rebels had a hard time blending into society when they returned to the Caribbean. They were now outcasts who had a hard time coping with being ostracized.

Of the entire group, only Mosely managed selection to the Test side after the ban was vacated in 1989. Making his debut aged 32 against the visiting Englishmen in 1989-90, he bowled with some fire. He did, unwittingly, make a huge contribution to his side’s cause by fracturing Graham Gooch’s finger during the third Test of a hard-fought series, ruling him out of the remaining two, which the West Indies won to take the series.

Rowe, now comfortably settled in Florida, established, along with his wife Audrey, The Lawrence Rowe Foundation. Sometimes they organize what is dubbed a “Weekend Of Legends,” usually a formal dinner and a game featuring a number of former greats and some current players. Proceeds from these events go toward assisting former West Indies players.

Many of us in the West Indies felt the South African venture was a terribly wrong turn. But forty-odd years is a long time to hang on to any resentment of these men. Moreover, we all need to be more appreciative of human motivations and human failings. The rebels did what they believed was in their best interest. We all don’t have to agree, but there need not be any lingering animosity.

“So, knowing how it all turned out, would you have still decided to tour South Africa if you were somehow transported back to that time?” Rowe did not address the question directly. “You have to live with the consequences of your decisions,” he replied.

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Squint and you can see the vision. It may sound like grandiose dreams, but Big Bash League matches - and big ticket international events - being played at the picturesque Bayuemas Oval, the home of Malaysian cricket about 45 km from Kuala Lumpur’s city centre, might one day become a reality.

While the ground is mostly empty on this day, just ahead of the women’s Asian Games qualifier, it’s nonetheless impressive marked by a lovely British colonial-style club house with new cricket nets nearby.

A large tower dedicated for media facilities is erected on one end although no broadcast is needed for this event given the exclusive rights for Asian Games, which is organised by the Olympic Council of Asia.

Temporary grandstands can ensure a ground capacity of about 10,000 people. More than 5000 fans attended the women’s under-19 World Cup final between India and South Africa earlier this year, enlivening these sedate settings amid lush greenery on the edge of a semi-rural jungle where monkeys roam around.

Bayuemas - which became Malaysia’s main home ground after Kinrara Oval was vacated and now resembles a forest - has hosted plenty of Associate and under-aged tournaments, cementing its reputation as the hub of cricket in Southeast Asia.

But looking to take the next step, Malaysia last year pushed its case to be part of potential BBL expansion through a 30-page document sent to Cricket Australia.

While plans to privatise the BBL is mired in tumult right now, with an expansion abroad unlikely any time soon, Malaysia is attempting to position itself as an appealing destination to perhaps at the very least host matches.

The BBL is set to open next season in India and there is a feeling that they will play some matches in various overseas locations in the coming years, something of a trial run to possible expansion abroad.

Malaysia is strategically located with proximity to Australia - with the same time zone as Western Australia - and India while the country boasts a significant South Asian diaspora.

CA officials are well aware of Malaysia, with Australia’s women’s team in 2018 having been part of an ODI series against Pakistan at the now defunct Kinrara Oval.

Malaysia also famously hosted an ODI tri-series involving India, Australia and West Indies in 2006 - a tournament featuring Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar and where Mitchell Johnson made his international debut.

Intriguingly, a Cricket Victoria official did recently visit Bayuemas. While the purpose of the visit is unclear, Malaysia’s impressive facilities should have been noted.

“No one in this part of the world has better facilities,” Malaysian Cricket Association president Mahinda Vallipuram told Cricket Financial Journal.

“I would put our facilities up against even some of the Full Members. We have 70 full-time staff, including curators and groundstaff. We even have chefs and caterers. It’s a big operation.”

While Malaysia has become a regular host of Associate and youth events, it is eyeing several marquee global tournaments that will be highly coveted. As I first reported previously, there will be a global qualifier for Associates before the next T20 World Cup in 2028 while there will also be a global qualifier for the Olympics.

The 2028 Olympic global qualifier is likely to be played in Los Angeles and that event is likely to comprise mainly big cricket countries such as Pakistan, New Zealand and Sri Lanka who are unlikely to automatically qualify for the six-team event.

There are hopes that the 2032 Brisbane Games will be expanded to possibly 12 teams and provide openings for Associates, many of whom are relying on Olympic clout to inject much-needed government and corporate funding.

While Associates (bar host United States) won’t be part of LA, it is envisioned that a 2032 global qualifier will be played amongst smaller Full Members and Associates. With the Brisbane Olympics to be held on the doorstep of Asia, Malaysia is already circling the global qualifier as a major opportunity to showcase its hosting abilities.

“Certainly we have proven that we can host big events that have many teams competing,” said Vallipuram, who is also on the all-powerful International Cricket Council board.

“It’s not only about showcasing Malaysia, but also benefiting the whole Associate world because we can help develop cricket through our resources and investment.”

Through its British historical footprint, Malaysia has a proud cricket history which is visible from the many ovals and cricket social clubs dotting the country. In 1927, Malaya (Malaysia’s former name) defeated a touring Australian side captained by the great Charlie Macartney but cricket has always remained on the fringes.

As expected, the sport has mostly been played among the Indian diaspora with cricket finding it difficult to penetrate the Malay and Chinese communities.

“Indians, even those who have been here for several generations, have mostly been contributing to the sport in Malaysia,” Vallipuram said. “Cricket has been traditionally viewed as an outsider type of sport, so it’s also important that we get the demographics right and that participation is not just seen as one small group.

“We’ve been working with the Ministry of Education in getting cricket part of the syllabus at schools which has now been the case for the past decade.”

In a culture where education is of utmost priority, sport - especially cricket - in Malaysia faces an uphill battle convincing kids and, more importantly, parents that there are viable employment prospects.

There will generally be mockery followed by scorn for those vowing to be a professional Malaysian cricketer rather than pursue a career in medicine or the court room.

But perhaps times are changing. Malaysia have never quite been a top Associate country but are currently ranked in the top 30 in T20Is for men’s and women’s.

Through the rise of T20 franchise cricket, new possibilities have arisen underscored by Malaysia captain Virandeep Singh having played in the UAE and Canada leagues while he was shortlisted for this year’s IPL auction.

“It’s important to show youngsters that there are opportunities to be a professional cricketer, so they hopefully keep playing as there tends to be a drop off around the age of 14-15,” Vallipuram said.

“We believe the talent and resources are there in Malaysia, it’s about retention and ensuring proper pathways.”

The ultimate dream, like every country undoubtedly, is for Malaysia to one day play on the grand stage of the Olympics. Before then, the next generation will continue to be inspired by top-shelf cricket being played in Bayuemas with the promise of much more to come.

“The future is exciting for Malaysian cricket,” Vallipuram said. “We continue striving to get better and ensure that cricket is highly visible in Malaysia. We will always push the boundaries of what is possible.”

There is doubt over whether the next World Test Championship (WTC) cycle will expand to 12 teams after robust discussions at the International Cricket Council board meetings in Ahmedabad.

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Preliminary work continues apace on the much-anticipated Bali International Oval (BIO) project with Cricket Financial Journal confirming that the sleepy seaside village of Gerogak will be the location of a cricket ground that may one day host major T20 matches.

While public documents state the site will be in the Buleleng Regency, no actual address has been mentioned which has prompted conjecture that it’s likely in the regional capital of Singaraja or the tourist district of Lovina.

However, sources have said that a 5-hectare plot located between the neighbouring villages of Gerogak and Sanggalangit is currently being prepared for further works, suggesting the clearing and grubbing of land, grading, utility installation, stakeout and survey works.

Sources have also confirmed that the site will be “beachside” of the main road, however a “proper” road into the site remains to be constructed, further giving credence to the lack of an address.

Sources further said that a hotel complex including a swimming pool will also be constructed and will cater to visiting teams and participants in the on-site cricket academy.

A project manager has also been confirmed to be present on location to manage the works.

Bali is seen as an alluring destination for cricket given its mass tourism and proximity to Australia and India. It has been mooted as a potential site if the BBL were to expand abroad, while the Asian Cricket Council has hosted meetings there in recent years to underscore Bali’s growing heft.

Opening up north Bali

Bali in recent years has pivoted its economic focus from mass tourism towards value-added niche sectors such as medical tourism, global conference and events venue and property development, which was accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic and the Ukraine-Russia war.

The construction of the BIO adds to this new direction with the potential of luring billions of cricket fans to watch international or franchise league matches to Bali’s shores. The success of Bali United’s soccer training centre in Sukawati, Giyanyar Regency shows that sport can be another of the island’s lucrative drawcards.

But the main drawcard for the Indonesian and provincial governments, other than the potential revenues, is how an international sporting venue could anchor large infrastructure projects that open up Bali’s north.

The much-discussed idea of having Bali’s second international airport near the same area as the BIO makes sense if there is a need for international travellers to go to an ‘out of the way’ place, which raises the further question of transportation.

The proposed rail system a few years previous would stretch from Bali’s current international airport through the beating urban heart of Denpasar and up over the mountains into Singaraja and beyond would also make sense if there were a reason for throngs of sports fans to head north.

It currently takes about four hours driving time to travel north one way from the southern suburbs of Denpasar through hills, mountain passes and questionable roadways. Driver fatigue is a real danger and congested roads mean traffic jams and chancy near-fatal overtaking manoeuvres. Not to mention bus and truck breakdowns, and the risk of thunderstorms and landslides.

A train line could significantly mitigate these safety risks, especially when maintained well. And the travel time spent could be viable enough for somebody to travel from Kuta, where they are staying, to watch a T20 match in the BIO and then head back at the end of the day.

Whether this happens remains to be seen, but a successful build and regular use of the BIO will keep these options open for Bali which is fast becoming an enticing destination for cricket powerbrokers.

An expanded 12-team World Test Championship (WTC) proposal will be thrashed out at upcoming rescheduled International Cricket Council (ICC) board meetings but an imminent decision is unlikely.

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