Singapore - Aspiring to become Sharjah of the East

A 15 man Pakistan squad led by the legendary fast bowler Waqar Younis has reached Singapore to participate in the Tri-Nation cricket tournament commencing August 20. South Africa and New Zealand are the other contestants for the championship called the Singapore Challenge 2000. Pakistan found its entry in the tournament after India declined to participate for the reasons best known to them. The tournament has been designed to be played on knock out basis with all the matches to be staged at the Kallang Cricket Ground, the only venue approved by the ICC for holding the one-day internationals.

Though played as far back as 1946, cricket in Singapore has progressed at the snails pace not yet reaching the international standards. In contrast, the country has taken rapid strides in the field of organization, turning the tiny Island State into an impressive venue for one-day matches. Singapore became an associate member of the ICC in 1947 and launched a development program in 1993, the results of which have been quite encouraging.

Having impressed the cricket world with its organizing ability, the Singapore Cricket Association staged the Singer Cup in 1996 between India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka quite successfully. Pakistan won the trophy. Advancing further in the domain of organization, they successfully staged another triangular between India, West Indies and Zimbabwe in September 99. Those handling the affairs of cricket in Singapore fully realize that it might take them 20-25 years to raise a test standard team.

At the same time they feel that with their high administrative acumen and the vast resources, it shall not be difficult to fulfill the dream of turning the Island into a major cricket centre like Sharjah. They consider it vital for boosting up its own cricket and for spreading the game in South East Asia as envisaged in the ICC's globalization program.

In response to the desires of cricket lovers, especially the expatriates from cricket playing countries of Asia and to give a boost to the local talent, they are vigorously planning to request India and Pakistan to play at Singapore instead of Toronto after expiry of the current Sahara Cup agreement. To make the tournaments financially viable they, however, consider India's presence to be extremely vital.

As for the local cricket, it is spreading fast in the schools and recovering from the setback caused, when for a few years the game was taken off the extra curricular activities of educational institutions. Seventy percent of Singapore's population comprises of ethnic Chinese, who have taken the game in a very positive spirit, turning out lot of good players. Out of around 2000 boys coming out of the schools cricket system 30-40 percent are Chinese.

Singapore's national coach is quite impressed with the talent available in the country. This is despite the fact that the whole scene revolves around study and doing well academically so as to make a good career. What he plans to impress upon the young generation is that if they do well at cricket they can make a buck there to. He, however, finds the physical fitness standards to be rather low with most of the boys unable to endure the full 50 overs of a match. A physical fitness program is on the anvil, while promotional videos are planned to be shown in the schools to attract the boys towards cricket. With persistent efforts to raise standards of the game Singapore hopes to give the ICC Trophy a shake very soon.

With rapid strides that Singapore is taking for the promotion of cricket in the state, especially the organization of periodical international tournaments it will not take them long to come in line with the top associate members of the ICC. Their dream of becoming Sharjah of the East notwithstanding, Singapore is already established as an attractive centre for one-day internationals.