Azerbaijan: Cricket hangs on in Baku

Since 1995 a hardy group of expatriates have been maintaining their love of the game on decaying matting on a football pitch in down town Baku, Azerbaijan.

With the former Soviet republic still technically in a state of war with neighbouring Armenia and things not much better in Iran, the chance for the Baku CC to engage in 'local derbies' is somewhat remote.

So Baku CC's assortment of Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Sri Lankans, Britons and yes, Azeris, fulfill their thirst for cricket with intra-club matches usually played on Sundays on a 25 over-per-side basis.

While numbers this year are expected to be lower through the current season which began this month and goes through to November, the club has usually had around 18-25 prospective players come to the ground for matches.

Club membership has often reflected Baku's diverse population with Dutch, Swedish and US nationals also amongst past club members.

When Baku CC was formed by entertainment starved expats seeking some form of recreation to occupy their Sundays, it was not surprising those associated with Azerbaijan's crucial oil industry were pivotal in the club's foundation.

At first the core were students from the subcontinent. Now, they are mainly people working in foreign companies (some of whom have settled in Azerbaijan) and a few students.

They have now been joined by intrigued youngsters who were drawn in by watching the intra-club matches. Aged 13-15, they play on an intermittent basis.

Playing gear is now becoming a problem as the original kit is wearing and finding replacement equipment in Azerbaijan is an impossibility.

Help may be on the way in the form of the ICC which has enquired as to the club's needs and has raised the possibility of sending an official to assess cricket Azerbaijani style in person.