Cricket World Cup qualifier sa EAC
NAKAPANOOD ka na ba ng cricket match?
Kung hindi pa, ito ang tamang pagkakataon na matunghayan ang aksiyon sa sports na itinuturing No.2 sa buong mundo kung pagbabatayan ang bilang nang TV viewers at sumusuporta sa sports.
“Next to football, crickets is the most viewed sports in the world. We have more that 3 billion followers around the globe,” pahayag ni Faisal Khan, local tournament director and general manager ng Philippine Cricket Association (PCA) sa ginanap na TOPS (Tabloids Organization in Philippine Sports) ‘Usapang Sports’ kahapon sa National Press Club (NPC) bldg. sa Intramuros, Manila.
“So far, cricket remained stranger to Filipinos, but the sports was played in the Philippines since 1900. I’ ll leave here for more than 30 years, put a family here, has a Pinay wife and I’m proud to say that this is my home,” pahayag ni Faisal.
Iginiit ni Faisal na ang mga players ng PCA hindi man homegrown talent ay may mga dugong Pinoy, Isip Pinoy at damdaming Pinoy,” aniya.
“In choosing players, we look for the players who has a Pinoy heart, Pinoy in blood and Pinoy in character. I’d love to see Filipinos embrace their national team and come to the ground to support them,” pahayag ni Faisal.
Aniya, ang gaganaping World Cup Cricket qualifier – ang International Cricket Council (ICC) World T20 East Asia Pacific (EAP) Qualifier Group B – sa Disyembre 1-7 sa Emilio Aguinaldo College sa Dasmarinas, Cavite – ang magbubukas sa kamalayan ng Pinoy sa sports.
“With the help of our volunteer friends and the media, I firmly believe that cricket will one day become a household name in Philippine sports. We have a solid organization and a good program, let us support our team,” pahayag ni Faisal.
Mapapalaban ang Pinoy sa Indonesia, Japan, at South Korea sa week-long event kung saan nakataya ang slots para sa next phase ng World Cup qualifier sa Papua New Guinea.
Ang World Cup ay nakatakda sa Australia sa 2020 na tinatayang may global television audience na 1.5 bilyon sa buong mundo.
“This is an exciting moment for Philippines cricket,” pahayag ni PH team captain Jonathan Hill. “We have matured and grown together as a group over the last few years, and had some encouraging results in competitions overseas. I think we’re ready to take the next step. We’ve trained hard for this tournament and want to do well in front of our home crowd.”
Binubuo ang Philippine national team ng mga players na kabilang sa Philippine Cricket Association leagues at development programs, gayundin ang overseas-born Filipinos na nakapaglaro sa domestic leagues sa Australia at England.