One of the more unusual effects of an influx of refugees settling in Germany could see the country become the next big market for modular cricket nets. According to reports from the German cricket federation (the DCB), the rise in the number of refugees from places where cricket is a popular national sport might just help to topple football from the top spot on the list of the country’s favourite sports.
With almost 40,000 people seeking refuge from Afghanistan and Pakistan combined, the number of queries about places that cricket can be played in Germany has increased vastly, reports the Daily Mail. The DCB say they have been swamped with questions on how to set up a new club, supply equipment and find spots for new arrivals to join current teams.
Before taking on the role, the level of interest in Germany was so small that the federation is run by CEO Brian Mantle and one part-time assistant only. When Brian arrived at the role in 2012, there were 1,500 registered cricketers in Germany and just 70 teams. Now however, the levels have sky-rocketed to 4,000 cricketers playing for some 205 teams.
And, he says, the numbers keep growing. “We’ve been getting up to five enquiries per day from groups wanting to set up new clubs. Often it’s from social workers, who had never even heard of cricket before groups of refugees from Afghanistan and Pakistan started asking where they could play it.”
However, the problems facing these groups are the ability to find the space needed and equipment fees to set up a proper playing ground.
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