Cricket club’s diversity drive to recruit first non-Asians

THE Indian Gymkhana Cricket Club has long been a bastion of the migrant communities who have settled in west London over the years.

Within its clubhouse in Hounslow, dozens of languages are spoken, from Punjabi to Hindi, Gujarati and Urdu.

But now, after 102 years, the club is throwing open its doors to non-Asian players, to reflect what it says is the reality of modern, multicultural Britain.

“We want to encourage more diversity in the club,” says Sanjay Sood, the cricket secretary. “We want people from other communities to join. Hounslow is a very multicultural area and we want to reflect modern Britain, which is so mixed now.”

The Indian Gymkhana Club, founded in 1916, has never operated a colour bar. Indeed as early as 1966, its Golden Jubilee year, it stated its intention of becoming a multiracial centre where old and young alike could meet to play sports.

But it is only now that it is pro-actively recruiting a white member for its cricket committee in the hope it will encourage more non-Asians to join.

Mr Sood hopes the arrival of Charlie Puckett, formerly secretary of the Middlesex County Cricket League, as the first white member to join the club will provide a boost to its recruitment campaign.

The club had considered dropping the word Indian from its name, but rejected that on the grounds that it was part of its historic identity.

It is some history. Visiting stars from India have graced its pitches and in 1973 Clive Lloyd’s all-conquering West Indies team arrived for a friendly. Indian Gymkhana bowled them out for 186, only to be dismissed in turn by the visitors’ fearsome fast bowlers for less than 100. Until the late 20th century, India would play the opening fixture of their England tours at the club.

Mr Sood, 51, hopes the influx of new members might even encourage less active members of the Indian community to sign up.

“Quite a few Indians have problems with fitness so if they see people joining they might be encouraged to get involved themselves, in the spirit of friendly competition,” he said.

The club is also trying to encourage more female players to join and already has around 20 girls among its 170 colts, the junior players coached by Chander Kaul, the former India women’s captain.