Cricket in Serbia: a player’s perspective!

Vladimir Ninkociv has reported on the state of his national game for us, from his home in Belgrade. Cricket is everywhere now guys, anf flourishing surprisingly well in pockets of the world, for instance Serbia! 

We are interested in the perspectives from club cricketers, who often have an insight to the experience, joys, challenges, and struggles even to organize regular formal cricket. These communities need and appreciate support- whether that be physical or moral.
Thanks to Vladimir, and we wish Serbian cricketers all the best in 2013!

Cricket in Serbia in 2013: it’s there and it’s growing

Despite a lack of serious investment, cricket is making steps towards becoming fully established sport in Serbia. The Serbian Cricket Federation (SCF) is endorsed by the sports’ governing bodies in Serbia – Ministry for Youth and Sports and Serbian Sports’ Association.
The curiosity of Serbian cricket is that it is run and played mainly by locals, with promotions/exhibitions for newcomers being run as often as possible. We have even been targeting the next generation- in elementary and secondary schools workshops are held on a regular basis.

Club Life: small but strong

Currently four clubs exist in Serbia, three of whom will contest the Serbian Cricket 40 over and T20 League –McKenzie Čačak CC (last year’s 40 over champion), Mirijevo CC (last year’s T20 champion) and Stari Grad CC.
The fourth club, Vračar CC, will play second tier of Serbian national competitions – 8-a-side league together with Zeleno Brdo (actually Mirijevo CC second team) and the youngest club in Serbia – Bodrog Deers CC, from the town of Bački Monoštor in northern Serbia. Due to poor weather conditions and incessant rains, domestic season has been postponed for late April, but will be extended until the second week of October.
We have implemented tight restrictions on overseas and imported talent, vital to ensure that our boys (who may not be of the highest standard yet, but will be in time) get a prominent role in matches. A maximum of 5 (40 over championship) or 4 (T20 league) expat players per team is allowed, whilst only locals are allowed in the “small”, 8-a-side league.

Serbia’s National Team

The Serbian national team will participate in this year’s Continental Cup in Bucharest. This  day will also stand as the official inauguration date  of the state-of-the-art Moara Vlasiei cricket ground! The maiden match on this new turf will be between Serbian and Hungarian native players, and is currently scheduled for the 5^th of May in Budapest.

Work to be done for us!

The most significant problem facing Serbian cricket – infrastructure – will be partially solved this year, when our artificial pitch is completed. This is being laid on the field next to the sports’ airport “Lisiciji Jarak”, a valuable patch of land leased to us from the Aeronautical Union of Serbia. Hopefully, the ground will become the home of Serbian cricket, with some bigger investment planned for the coming years.
Additionally, the construction of outdoor nets (two in south, two in east Belgrade) is planned for this summer. SCF hopes that 2013 will be a landmark year in the development of cricket in the region.
The new development projects will secure a sustainable future for our country’s cricket, and give us a platform to expand for years to come. Look out for Serbia!!