Cricket and Community: A Perfect Match at CAPERS Weekend

As cricket continues to grow in popularity across Canada, Cape Breton University is embracing the sport with open arms. What began as a niche interest among a small group of students has blossomed into a full-fledged Cricket Club, now set to showcase its talents during the Cricket Exhibition Game against The Defenders. The game is part of CAPERS Weekend, presented by Protocase, celebrating CBU’s 50th Anniversary.

The CBU Cricket Club was established in the Spring of 2021 when Yann Artur, CBU’s Manager of Recreation Services, recognized a growing interest in cricket among students, especially international students. “The idea was to empower CBU students who wanted to compete at a higher level than our intramural program to take the lead in forming a club,” says Yann. Since then, the CBU Cricket Club has been actively competing in several tournaments across the Atlantic provinces and has achieved notable success, winning multiple events.

Cricket has become an integral part of CBU’s recreation programming. “We started slowly with a few league games and a couple of tournaments, but now we run two sets of leagues and two major tournaments each year,” Yann explains. Over the past year alone, these events attracted 380 participants. The creation of the CBU Cricket Club eventually evolved into Cricket Cape Breton, a registered association with Cricket Nova Scotia, providing ongoing opportunities for players to continue their cricket journey in Cape Breton after graduation.

For many of the international students involved, cricket is a sport they grew up playing. Anush Krishnamurthy, originally from India, has been playing with the CBU Cricket Club for nearly two years while pursuing a Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Supply Chain Management. Recently, he stepped into the role of team captain.

“Playing cricket at CBU and within the CBRM is really meaningful to me, especially as an international student, because it’s a way to stay connected with my culture and share something I love with the wider community,” shares Anush. “Although cricket is new here, people are showing a lot of interest, and it’s heartening to see locals and students alike coming together to watch and even participate. Being able to play in such a multicultural setting makes it even more special.”

The reception of cricket in the Cape Breton community has been overwhelmingly positive, with growing interest both on and off campus. “I hope this game raises more awareness about cricket and encourages more people to give it a try,” Anush says. “With the new cricket ground in Sydney, there’s a real opportunity to make a lasting impact and build a solid foundation for the sport in the area.”

The cricket exhibition game takes place on Saturday, October 5, from 1:00pm-2:30pm, at the Ness Timmons Soccer Field, where the CBU Cricket Club will face off against The Defenders. Following the match, audience members will have the chance to participate in “Try It Cricket,” an opportunity to learn and experience the sport firsthand under the guidance of the members of the two teams.

In addition to the cricket exhibition game and Try It Cricket session, CAPERS Weekend offers various recreation activities including a pickleball jamboree, disc golf scramble, lawn games and outdoor yoga. “The cricket game is only one small step toward creating interest and awareness,” adds Yann. “We’re excited to see the community come out and participate in these activities all weekend long. There’s something for everyone to enjoy!”

For more information and to view the full schedule of events, please visit cbu.ca/capers-weekend