Noman Iftikhar: From Shalwar to Limelight

Our Trip to Florida last week was a memorable one to say the least. We went to watch cricket. But the weather was something we could just dream about, living in New Jersey has SOME downfalls. So we ended up watching less cricket and doing more sightseeing and fishing.   I have no regrets about it what so ever because not only we had an awesome time but also I got to see what made my trip worth it and it was Noman Ifthakar doing what he does the best on field, watching him getting emotional after winning and thanking Allah while prostrating after winning the final of US Open before joining his teammates who were dancing and screaming for joy was a sight to see.   It made me think about the days when he started and how far he has come, from the suburbs of Jersey to Florida.
All of us had faith in him and always knew he has the talent even on the days he showed up in white shalwar for league games :) he has struggled in life to achieve what he got. It makes all of us immensely proud to call him our team mate and more importantly a good friend. What I saw on that field not only gave me a glimpse of  Noman's future but also showed me that he is in a good place in his life now. All I can do is smile and feel a little smug about the intuition that I always had about him being an extraordinary cricketer and a good kid:)

Congratulations!! Well done Nomi! Well done!

Warm-up before the game

After playing cricket in NJ and being able to watch it closely for last 10 years, I’ve noticed that we do not properly warm-up beforehand. Knowing the nature of our cricket grounds with heavy outfield, uneven surface, and one-week duration b/w games, it is critical to prepare the body with a proper warm up for a 6-7 hours game.

Most cricketers in NJ play only once a week, which means their muscles are not prepared for a lengthy game. Hence, if a proper warm up is not done, cold muscles become more prone to injuries. This could be compared to driving a car in freezing cold weather. It is best to allow the car to warm up before accelerating it to high speeds.

Even a simple warm up can increase the circulation throughout the body, and help to recognize niggles or illness & prevent a further injury. A good workout consists of a solid warm up, a period of stretching, increasing the heart rate and a cool down period, which often includes stretching

Nelson Mendela and sports

Last week the world lost another gem in the form of Nelson Mandela. We are all familiar with his great accomplishments and the major part he played in dismantling the legacy of apartheid in South Africa which aided the country to move forward from a very dark time. 

I was aware of Mr. Mandela’s political accomplishments and the way he went about in achieving it, but was not aware of how he used sports to bring his country together. One of the most famous instances was his 1995 Rugby World Cup final appearance wearing the Springboks Jersey which symbolized 
nothing but harmony and equality (If anyone is interested, the movie, Invictus portrays this scene beautifully).

This gesture of Mr. Mandela got me thinking, are there any other sports instances that has brought a whole country together? 

If I were to pick one from my recent memory, I would have to go with the World Series played between the Yankees and the Diamondbacks after the September 11 attacks. I am by no means a baseball fan, but know for a fact that everyone around the country (I would guess, besides the Diamondbacks’ fans) were rooting for the Yankees to win just so a little relief and joy can be achieved by a city that was hurting so much. 

I look forward to reading some other instances of similar nature.

Pink Ball

A lot of leagues in the United States are opting to use fluorescent pink balls instead of the traditional red or white claiming that it provides better visibility; and as we play on make shift grounds with trees and houses as backdrops, it will negate the need of sight screens to an extent. 

Of course, with any change come concern, resistance and debate. We can sit here and discuss the obvious points such as quality of the ball, the excessive swing or the lack of it etc, but I will like to bring up another angle and will love to hear from the” weekend warriors” aka USA club cricketers especially the ones aspiring to play at the higher level

Is this change (pink balls) very short sighted? How will this affect the players who strive to play at a higher level in the long run? ICC doesn't plan to switch to fluorescent balls just yet, are we doing these aspiring USA cricketers a disservice?

Syed Ahmed

Introduction to Stars Cricket Club

It all started back in the summer of 1995 when a handful of young athletes started a tape ball cricket team by the name of Plainfield Tigers. Today after fifteen years of playing cricket, the club has not only changed its name to the “Stars Cricket Club” but has evolved into a registered non profit 501 (c) (7) organization in New Jersey, playing in two of the most prestigious leagues on the Atlantic coast.

Our Mission is to encourage and advance the game of cricket in New Jersey along with promoting sportsmanship, fellowship and delight of the game, and also to practice fair play and adherence to cricket codes of conduct both on and off the field of play.

The Stars Cricket Club has around 40 members and play in two leagues, namely – The Millennium Cricket League (MCL); which is primarily played on Saturdays and in The Cricket League of New Jersey (CLNJ); which hosts its games for the most part on Sundays. The Club is a active participant in friendly games hosted before and after the league’s regular, which encompasses of multiple cricket tournaments.

In CLNJ, or as we call it our Sunday league, we field a more competitive team whose goal is to go out and play to win every game. And it is this mindset that has helped the Club bring home the Championship Trophy for the year 2009. Though the Club was just shy of defending its title in 2010, Stars topped the League’s regular season points table. The season had ended for the team following a disheartening loss in the semi finals. In all, Stars have made the playoff for six straight years and made it to the semi-final 2010, 2011 and 2013.

In addition, taking into consideration team members who don’t make the Sunday league, due to any reason, the Club partakes in season games hosted by the MCL to give them an opportunity to enjoy cricket.

Every institution has its founding members and contributors who work for its advancement. The Stars Cricket Club is no different. The Club has seen some very dedicated individuals in the past who have worked tirelessly on and off the field for the betterment of STARS. They not only played but also managed the team players and playing a vital role in handling individual and team matters within, and those dealing directly with the league – from AGM’s to ground assignments.

Shedding some light on the history of its founding members; the team started with Faisal Bhai and Jawed Mamu who introduced its members to tape ball cricket and was then managed by Asif Bari and Jawed Aikal under whom the team flourished as a recognized hard ball team. The torch was then passed on to the current leadership team consisting of Saroosh Nadeem, Waqas Khan and Adeel Khan.

Ever since its formation, the club has been blessed with individual players who have not only shined for the club but made their mark in the region. Raheel Malik is one of those home grown players who excelled not only at club level, topping both leagues (MCL & CLNJ) as the highest scoring batsman and wicket taker but at a young age of 18 represented the under 19 Atlantic region team in the year 2006, who had won the country’s regional tournament. Raheel’s cricketing career may have ended due to an unfortunate car accident but his legendry tales of cricket live on.

The Stars Cricket Club has always believed that cricket should be fun. Although we have a strong will to win and play to good standards, humor and banter on the ground are positively encouraged. Come join us and see what the buzz is all about.