Unlike other Commonwealth countries, Cyprus did not take up the game during the years of colonial rule. It was brought to the island by the British military stationed in Cyprus after the Second World War and confined to the British Bases, of which there are four: RAF Akrotiri, Episkopi Garrison, Dhekelia Garrison and RAF Ayios Nicholas.

 

In the 1980s, the expat community started to flourish and a team formed by them, ‘Th e Moufflons’ came into being and played in the then thriving inter-unit cricket. The CCA became an International Cricket Council member in 1999. In early 2000s, the community had expanded and Asian workers arrived on the island, bringing with them their love for cricket. About the same time, a number of Cypriots started to return to the island, after the troubles of 1974. They had been brought up in places like Australia and South Africa where they had learnt the game. Thus the Cyprus Cricket Association came into being.

 

It was not until August 2006 that we made our international debut, finishing as runners up in Division Four of the European Championship. In 2007, the Cyprus Cricket National team competed in the European Division 3 Championships where we finished in 7th place out of 8.

 

In 2009, Cyprus then hosted the ICC Division 4 Championships in Cyprus which turned out to be a great success for the Cyprus National cricket team winning the Division 4 championship. In 2011, Cyprus competed in the ICC Division 2 T20 Championships held in Belgium where we came 10th place in the tournament, beating Sweden in the play-off game for 10th/11th place and sparked a re-think on the value of the national team given ICC regulations.

 

The Future

 

Many challenges lie ahead for the future of Cyprus Cricket including the issue of a permanent Cricket ground and an administrative infrastructure which is realistic and sustainable within the ICC world. With the wonderful weather who knows Cyprus Cricket could become the warm-weather training base of choice in time and the delightful thought of some of the best European cricketers gracing the turf of Cyprus cricket.

Richard Cox (Honarary Vice President, CCA)

 

Cyprus Cricket Timeline:

1940s - British Military introduced Cricket in Cyprus 

1950s - Cricket limited to British Bases. 

1980s - First Cyprus Cricket Club “Moufflons” came in to existence 

1980s - Cyprus Expats community joined British Military Cricket League 

1999 - Cyprus became ICC member

2003 - Development initiatives launched 

2003 - First League match took place 

2006 - Cyprus @ EU Div 4 championships 

2007 - Cyprus @ EU Div 3 championships 

2007 - Cyprus U-15 @ EU Div 2 championships 

2007 - League extended to 10 teams 

2008 - Nicosia Cricket Association Established 

2008 - Cricket @ UN Base 

2009 - European Cricket comes to Cyprus (Cyprus host EU Div 4 championships) 

2009 - Cyprus wins the EU Div 4 championships 

2010 - Cyprus Cricket registers with the Company House and becomes an incorporated body 

2011 - Cyprus U-16 visits Greece to participate in Ionian Festival 

2011 - Cyprus Cricket launched facebook group

2011 - Cyprus @ EU T20 Div 2 championships in Belgium 

2012 - Cyprus @ EU T20 Div 2 championships in Corfu

2012 - Cyprus Cricket YouTube channel launched

2013 - Introduction to Cricket Coaching course held at ESK, Kyrenia.

2014 - Kypros Cricket magazine launched

2014 - North Cyprus league established

2015 - Women cricket league established

2015 - Tochni ground lease agreement signed

2016 - Gained access to Lakatamia Stadium for cricket use

2016 - Partnerships made with UN Aids and Cricket Without Boundaries

2017 - North Cyprus league extended to 9 teams

2018 - Cyprus participates in ICC WT20 Qualifiers in the Netherlands

2018 - Tochni ground hosts first cricket game.

2019 - Ypsonas ground hosts first cricket game.

2019 - CCA T20 competition extended to 13 teams.