Green shoots of cricket in Laos

Following a theme introduced in previous columns of “They play cricket there, really?” another contender has emerged, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Laos).

I had hoped to witness this first-hand by attending the first Vientiane Eights match at the Lao Tobacco Company ground on July 13-14. However, the window of opportunity between back-to back Test matches in England was too narrow for comfort. As a result, this column is based on conversations with the Arab News Thailand cricket correspondent, Richard Lockwood, who did attend.

It was at the Chiang Mai International Sixes tournament last April that I first met the members of the Lao Elephants team. The driving forces behind the team are Michael Simcock, who first arrived in Vientiane 25 years ago, and Eshan Sebastian. Although it is believed that expatriates played cricket in Laos more than 100 years ago, it is only in the past decade that there has been a reappearance of the game.

Even then, it was in a rudimentary knockabout format in Vientiane. The Vientiane Cricket Association was formed only five years ago with regular matches played on a ground at the Lao Tobacco Company factory. At that time, the ground was small, offering a dirt pitch and a pot-holed outfield, which necessitated the use of an indoor ball to protect the more inexperienced players from injury. Despite this, the game was played and enjoyed by expatriates, mainly Australian, plus a few Brits who came over the border from Thailand. Sri Lankans, Indians and Pakistanis later joined in. Soon, 30-over matches between Corinthian Cricket Club and Mekong Cricket Club became a regular Sunday feature at the Lao Tobacco ground.

Based on this growing strength, Simcock and Sebastian sensed that they could embark on international cricket tours, so they attended the April 2023 Chiang Mai Sixes, which had returned after a four-year break caused by COVID-19. They liked what they saw, both on and off the field, possibly helped by their adoption by members of the Floggers & Robbers team, itself with roots in the tobacco industry. The visit planted the seed of an idea as to what they could create in their own adopted country.

Germination was quick as they returned to Chiang Mai as the Lao Elephants to participate in the Gymkhana Sixes, a weekend event in November 2023. This was followed by full participation in the Chiang Mai Sixes in April 2024. It was during that week when Simcock, Sebastian and Dan Watt, owner of several businesses, began talking about holding an international tournament in Vientiane within three months. This needed significant work to improve the ground and facilities. An astro turf pitch had been installed in 2022.

Richard Lockwood reports that the bumpy outfield was flattened and then treated to a series of weekly mowing sessions by Simcock. The result was transformation into a billiard-table surface with wide, square boundaries. The short, straight boundary is shadowed by a ring of fully grown eucalyptus trees.

Boundary banners encircled the ground, displaying a multitude of advertisers and sponsors who supported the event. Food and drink were provided and the teams each had their own tents. There was even computer scoring with support from the officials at the Chiang Mai Sixes.

In this sylvan setting, five teams took to the field, three from Thailand. The British Club traveled by train from Bangkok, the route having been extended recently to Vientiane. Most of Pattaya Cricket Club’s players flew to Udon Thani before crossing the nearby border.

The third team was from Lamphun; all Thai nationals who had to be at least 18 years old to cross the border on three-day passes using their ID cards. The majority traveled on overnight buses, their fares sponsored by the Thailand Junior Cricket Development Fund. At the border, they were joined by two other players from elsewhere in Thailand. Once documentation was completed, they crossed the Mekong on a crowded bus for 30 baht ($0.86) apiece.

Two teams from Vientiane completed the line-up: Lao Elephants, the senior team and the Lao Calves. All five teams gathered at the Welcome Party, a venue which happens to be run by the brother of Ryan Campbell, who is currently coach of Durham County Cricket Club in England. It seems that Laos can produce unexpected cricket connections.

The format for the tournament was for the five teams to play four matches each on the Saturday with seven bowlers bowling an over each and batters retiring on 35. Lamphun won all four matches to finish ahead of Lao Elephants on three wins, British Club on two, Pattaya CC on one and Lao Calves with no wins, but still proving to be a competitive side.

On Sunday a series of six finals were played to keep all teams involved. British Club beat Lao Elephants and Pattaya CC beat Lao Calves to progress, but top-of-the-table Lamphun beat British Club to qualify for the final. After further eliminating matches, the British Club were rematched against Lamphun, who, well-rested, out batted their opponents. They were worthy champions of the inaugural Vientiane Eights, having won six matches out of six.

Richard Lockwood reports that all agreed that the event had been a great success, establishing international cricket in Laos, underpinned by excellent organization. The next steps are to develop local cricket — three Lao nationals played in the tournament. This is all part of a dream to have a national team which, one day, might feature in the Southeast Asian Games, a medal sport since 2010.

At a time when world cricket is undergoing rapid change, driven by the riches generated by the Indian Premier League and its owners, the tale of cricket taking a foothold in Laos is heart-warming. It is in line with the International Cricket Council’s mission to grow the game, but very different to the headlong race to grow the game by T20 franchise leagues. An online search for cricket in Laos generates reference to raising crickets as food. It is to be hoped that those promoting the game of cricket in Laos can achieve more appropriate recognition.