The cricket cages at Spur Noord will be an excellent asset to the fast-growing sport: “Important integration for Afghan youth” (Antwerp)

A cricket training ground at Park Spur Noord will be in the form of four consecutive training cages, each 28 meters long and completely fenced. Batters can perform their tight strokes without hurting or disturbing other park visitors. Construction begins next week. The new infrastructure, the first public park, will open next month. “It’s worth celebrating. We hope it will allow more young people to go to real clubs,” said Abdul Rashid Karim Dostigale, a cricket guru at Spur Noord.

Cricket fans have been enjoying the big lawn near Wiesestrad for years. They often bring love for this ‘second biggest game in the world’ from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan or India. The training cages that a contractor from Esan is now building will give a more official touch to the cricket hype, which will also attract park walkers. Be clear: Spur Noord does not have a full-size ‘ground’ and you will need an entire park: The official match will usually be played on an area equal to 2.5 football fields.

Small competitions have already been held at Spur Noord. It was created by Abdul Rashid Karim Dostigale (30), a member of our national team and a strong holder at the National Champion Bevern Cricket Club. When the weather is good – because cricket is a real summer sport – you can see him ‘on the pitch’ almost every day. “As part of the Antwerp Citizen Budget, I submitted in 2017 a plan to give young people the opportunity to integrate through this sport with the help of some competitions and events. Be active, teach social behavior, and take responsibility. That’s what it’s all about, “said Abdul Rashid, a group supervisor at FedAs.

Cross, a non-profit organization, helped him reach out to young people and launch the project. It is no coincidence that many Afghan refugees are his target group, in addition to the people living in the spacious environment of the park. “They sometimes advance to big teams in our country, but that’s definitely not the most important thing.”

Commonwealth

Cricket, like flat-battle baseball for dummies, has full biblical rules in England, Australia and New Zealand. But in countries like India, Pakistan or Afghanistan this is really a state affair. The United Kingdom spread the game throughout the Commonwealth, but strangely, Flemish weavers brought the game to England in the late Middle Ages. Recent historical studies have proven this. So with this investment – the district spends ,000 93,000 on these batting cages – you can say that cricket is somewhat ‘coming home’ again.

At one level, Belgium has 2,500 officially affiliated players, spread across eighteen clubs, in different genres of cricket. Antwerp has two full-size stadiums: the Antwerp Cricket Club (a club that has existed since 1892 and at one time played at Wilrijx Plenum) Nachtegalenpark, and the Antwerp Indian Cricket Club at Jintempel at Wilrijk. “I also secretly dream of a complete base in the north. I see a place for this in Slaktuslan, a newly developed urban district around the ring, “said Abdul Rashid.

But first training cages on Viséstraat. They will be located on the site of the current volleyball court. The current volleyball court moves and is located between the basketball court and the cages. The location of the basketball court will remain the same. “We have coaches and sports infrastructure nearby. Spark is nearby,” said Charlie von Lieffel (N-VA), the district alderman who helped start construction. “So, we hope the ordering goes smoothly. This idea was already there during the previous assembly, but now we can really answer the question of the players and the locals. I’m curious about the start and would like to see the players fully engaged. We hope the weather is not too bad,” Because it may delay construction slightly.