Starting end of May, England will face India, Pakistan and Australia as part of the summer of international cricket tournaments. The schedule for 2018, which was confirmed by ECB last year, starts with two Tests against Pakistan (at Lord’s and Emerald Headingley). In August, following the IT20 and the ODIs with India in July, England vs India Tests will be held across the UK. June will also see India captain Virat Kohli representing Surrey in the English county cricket. Virat Kohli, who has signed a one month deal, invited praise from England paceman Chris Woakes, who reportedly said earlier this month, that Kohli’s game “will raise the standard of English county cricket”.
Isa Guha, the England cricketer who continues to break boundaries with a career in broadcasting and radio, told Asian Voice that this summer she is “really looking forward to having Pakistan and India over” as the “British Asian community’s enthusiasm is second to none”. Nasser Hussain OBE, the former England and Essex Cricket Captain, added that “one of the major highlights of the upcoming summer of cricket will be Kohli’s presence in the English county cricket”. Such exchanges, as Hussain said, “will improve the standard of the domestic game in England and their (foreign players’) cricket game away from home”. So does that mean players from England should go and participate in the domestic cricket in countries of the Indian subcontinent, such as the Ranji Trophy, to improve their game? Isa Guha says, “Yes, definitely!”
Asian Voice asked Isa and Nasser if some of the Asian teams have a greater advantage in comparison to the UK while playing in England due to the huge diaspora. Isa shared, “I grew up watching English cricket on TV, and I always knew I wanted to play for England, but I see why South Asian communities want to support their heritage. The long-term goal is to foster more engagement between UK and its British Asian communities”. Hussain said, “Stadiums will be absolutely packed, and numerous tickets are bought by the South Asian community. I myself belong to the British Asian community and I know that in Asian countries like India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, cricket is a religion, it is everything that they want to do. Why is that? Because of Shahid Afridi and Virat Kohli? We are no one to tell people who their heroes are”.
