The ICC Under-19 World Cup has spotlighted cricket's growing inclusivity, with players of South Asian origin playing key roles. In the tournament held in Namibia and Zimbabwe, 92 out of 240 players are South Asians or their descendants. This shift marks cricket's embrace of a post-colonial spirit.
The ICC Under-19 World Cup in Namibia and Zimbabwe has showcased the evolving landscape of cricket. In the tournament featuring 16 teams, Hindi speakers are present in 10, Punjabi-understanding players in seven, and Gujarati, Telugu, and Malayalam speakers in four. Teams from outside the subcontinent also include speakers of Urdu, Tamil, Sinhala, and Marathi.
Out of 240 players, 92 are of South Asian origin or descent, accounting for 26 percent. This diversity reflects cricket's past, once segregated racially in Africa and divided socially in England and Australia. A prominent British politician, Lord Tebbit, once proposed a 'loyalty test' for migrants.
Today, two youngsters of Pakistani descent form the pillars of England's team; Australia regularly fields two Indians and two Sri Lankans. New Zealand has four Indians. The USA fielded an entire side of second-generation Indians, even as their president, Donald Trump, pursues visa revocations. Cricket is no longer a colonial sport; it has embraced the post-colonial spirit.
This mirrors football, where immigrants are the backbone of European powerhouses like England, France, Spain, Belgium, and Portugal. Even the once-rigid Italy has opened doors to migrants. The integration of migrants from former British colonies into society has transformed cricket's identity. Migration is reshaping the world of sports.
