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Play Cricket in the island of Dominican Republic

SANTO DOMINGO.- The English-speaking islands of the West Indies and cricket are synonymous in the minds of lovers of the sport ? but in Spanish-speaking Caribbean countries like the Dominican Republic cricket is unknown, or at best a novelty. Or is it?

The Dominican Cricket Association was set up in Santo Domingo by a group of cricketing enthusiasts earlier this year, composed mainly of students from cricketing superpowers like India and Pakistan who are living in the Dominican Republic.

It is interesting to note, however, that cricket does have a much longer history in the Dominican Republic. Not surprisingly, the answer lies in the ?Cocolo? connection ? the migrants from the English-speaking Caribbean who started arriving in the Dominican Republic in the late 19th century, bringing over a love of cricket along with their johnnycakes and dumplings.

The game is still played in the campos and the barrios of the DR, although it mutated into an improvised version, known as ?plaquita? ? but its striking similarities to cricket are undeniable.

Baseball went on to become the Dominican Republic?s favorite sport ? a game many believe has its roots in cricket, so for this very reason the Dominican Cricket Association hopes to generate an interest in cricket among young Dominicans.

Several big names are lending their support to the initiative, the brainchild of former Canadian ambassador to the DR, Alvin Curling, who is of Jamaican origin, and former UK ambassador Andy Ashcroft, together with the Dominican-based cricket lovers and several Dominicans who developed a passion for the sport while living in the UK. The new British ambassador, Ian Worthington is the association?s chairman, and the Indian honorary consul is also a member.

The Santo Domingo cricketers meet to play every Saturday and Sunday afternoon from 3:00 - 6:00pm at the UASD basketball pitch. They welcome new members.

The association also has a branch in Puerto Plata (N), where the Executive Vice President Alan Buckley, who is also the association's coach, lives. Mr. Buckley, who has played cricket for top English teams, comes to Santo Domingo every couple of weeks to hold coaching sessions with the team there.

San Pedro de Macorís (SE), in the spirit of its proud Cocolo heritage, is the base for another enthusiastic group, headed by British Chamber of Commerce Chairman, Dominican Roberto Herrera, who is setting up a children?s team.

Future plans include visits to the neighboring island of Antigua, and to the Cricket World Cup in 2007, which is being held in a number of English-speaking Caribbean locations such as Barbados and Guyana. The Dominican team also hopes to play against a selection from the Indian and Sri Lankan members of the United Nations peacekeeping forces in Haiti in the near future.

The Dominican Cricket Association has received the generous support of the AAA Clinic, Ali Celular and Sun Import, as well as the International Cricket Council.

Contact details:

Tel: 809 362 0606

Fax: 809 532 7899

Cel: 809 886 4849

E-mail: dominicancricket@yahoo.com

Website: www.cricketdominicano.com