Surrey cricket league connects newcomers through familiar sport

Last Man Stands and Last Woman Stands, initiatives of Inclusive Canada Foundation, are bringing more cricket players to Surrey. More than 1,700 players have registered for the B.C. amateur leagues over the past four years, which are intended to support physical activity, community connection, leadership development and belonging.

Surrey Thunder Wolves and Pak-In played for the LMS BC Blasters division title Aug. 24 at Newton Athletic Park after a summer of two-hour, eight-a-side T20 matches open to all abilities. Many players are newcomers to Canada, international students and young adults, including women.

Inclusive Canada Foundation president Emrul Hasan said cricket is culturally familiar to most participants, but organized opportunities can be limited by cost, transportation, awareness, equipment and other barriers. The LMS network has more than 260,000 participants and 10,000 teams in nearly 180 cities globally. Its first women’s league has three teams, while four “floaters” teams allow people without a club structure to play.

Some LMS players also play in the elite British Columbia Mainland Cricket League, founded in 1914, but Hasan said the leagues do not compete. Hasan and Surrey First council candidate Bilal Cheema said Surrey needs more cricket grounds. Details are at lastmanstands.com/play-cricket/surrey.

About a dozen Surrey-area players will also participate in Canada Super 60 at BC Place in Vancouver from Sept. 29 to Oct. 4. Men’s and women’s games in the professional T10 league return a year after the event’s first Vancouver edition.