Indian inspiration for cricket team

NEW TEAM IN TOWN: Intending members of the Bollywood Stars cricket team pose with part of their playing strip. They are, front (from left): Jagroop Singh, Baljeet Sandhu, Ajay Kumar, Amit Vyas and Simar Basra. Back: Keegan Martin, Harry Singh, Harman Singh, Sukhi Singh, Garry Singh, AK Pardhan, Aman Kamboj, Tushar Kapoor and Balraaj Bhullar. Picture supplied

POVERTY Bay cricket development officer and representative coach David McDonald is “rapt” that next season’s competition will have a new team — the Bollywood Stars.

“We’re in the rugby season so shouldn’t be talking cricket, but it’s great news,” McDonald said.

“Former Tamarind High School Old Boys players AJ Kumar and Garry Singh are behind the new team. They have to be congratulated on their proactivity in getting their cricket club set up for the coming season.

“Last season we had seven teams; now we’ve got eight, which means no bye. From what I can gather, they have taken three or four of the Indian boys from HSOB after discussions with Ryan (Majstrovic, HSOB club captain).

“The new team are training at Harry Barker Reserve a few hours a week and the Poverty Bay Cricket Association will work with them to ensure they have the governance and structure in place to be sustainable.

Umpire and score training“We’ll also put players through umpiring and scoring training, and show them how to run effective training sessions. The majority of their players are reasonably settled in Gisborne now with employment and the like.”

Kumar said he had 10 players registered for next season.

“Garry and I will always be grateful to Ryan and HSOB,” he said.

“They gave us the chance to play cricket here and made us and other Indian players very welcome. Ryan has given us his blessing and he won’t be short . . . three players coming back or already back in the district will play for HSOB.

“He has always motivated us and given us a lot of love and respect. We’ve got Garry and me, Baljeet Sandhu, Keegan Martin, Aman Kamboj, Sukhi Singh, Jagroop Singh, Harry Singh, Harman Singh, Tushar Kapoor, AK Pardhan, Amit Vyas and Gagan Dhingra.

Well balanced team“We’ve got a well-balanced team with four bowlers and five batsmen, with four genuine all-rounders. Amit Vyas is our mentor. We’d also like to acknowledge Mohinder Nagra and JP and Kamal Mahil for their help and support.

“Baljeet, who owns Bollywood, encouraged me to start a club that represented the company’s name and now it’s all go. We can’t wait till the season starts.”