Just to add to jc's note and trying to be careful not to steal his thunder:

Myself, OZ, the great Syed, the defence attache from the Pakistani Embassy, loads of other Pakistanis and Indians, a bloke from the ICC, and a memur from the spor and genclik ministry (or whatever) met last Wednesday for afternoon tea and crustless cucumber sandwiches at Bilkent University sports complex. The bloke from the ICC made a short presentation followed by lots of polite chatter about cricket, cricket in Turkey, cricket in Istanbul etc. The long and the short is that the ICC is backing this initiative with cash and among other things are prepared to help run coaching badge courses (there are 4 levels apparently with the 4th level for international coaches); provide equipment, and generally do whatever they can to promote cricket at all levels from primary school upward in Turkey. OZ is able to play for Turkey but I have to make a written appeal to the great Sunil Gavaskar re. my eligibility to play for Turkey although going abroad (?) for education is quite a legitimate excuse apparently. For all other yabancis wanting to play for Turkey you have to have been in residence for 7 years consecutively and to not have represented another country at cricket. Loads of other exciting things were discussed but I'll leave them for jc to announce.

Blimey!!! I'll have to do a Pieterson and wait to qualify to play for Turkey.

Does the residency rule apply to domestic cricket?

See below a note that I have sent out to our distribution list. Keep spreading the word and if anyone is interested in contributing in any way, please send me a PM.

Dear all

Happy new year and many thanks for agreeing to be part of the Istanbul Efsaneler Cricket Club. As you can see, I had a very positive response to my initial e-mail and we now have a distribution list of 34 potential cricketers. That is enough for at least 2 teams in Istanbul and I am confident that our list will expand further as the word spreads.

Syed Mahmud, who is already successfully organising cricket in Ankara, recently sent me the attached e-mail about meetings with the European Cricket Counsel (ECC). The news is positive and hopefully Turkey will become an affiliate member of the ECC by June 2008.

In the meantime, a key priority for Enver Oral (the President of the Turkish Cricketing Federation (TCF)) is to find that elusive ground in Istanbul. There will be a meeting in Istanbul sometime in January in order to move this forward. If anyone has any ideas or proposals that they would like raised at this meeting, please let us know. The TCF will also provide initial equipment support for clubs in Istanbul.

In addition, Syed and the TCF will also be announcing a schedule of tournaments for 2008. Syed already organises tournaments out of Ankara and the aim will be to organise a series of regional and national tournaments (some of which will hopefully include some clubs from Europe).

Finally, as the burden of organising cricket in Istanbul will be too much for one person, Steve Anderson has kindly agree to help organise our cricket club with me. Steve had been resident in Istanbul for 2 1/2 years and has a good amount of experience with cricket (including a stint on the tricky wickets of South East Asia).

We will keep you updated about cricketing developments throughout 2008. In the interim, instead of throwing snowballs, try bowling them!

Many thanks
Jonathan

[quote user="Ranj" post="106340"]Blimey!!! I'll have to do a Pieterson and wait to qualify to play for Turkey.

Does the residency rule apply to domestic cricket?[/quote]

no it doesn't and also it doesn't apply to non-ICC sanctioned internationals. So if for example Turkey were to play Greece in a non-sanctioned game then Turkey can play pretty much whoever the hell it wants. However, when we start playing ICC sanctioned games then its down to me, Oz Kanka, Arikan, Spine, Laughing Boy, Starfairy and hopefully some real Turks. We're going to be rock stars!

[quote user="seggiest" post="106860"]We're going to be rock stars![/quote]

Steady on Kojak

Couldnt we name the cricket team something a bit more exciting other then the boringly named Istanbul ottomans or Galatasary. How about something like the Istanbul sky screamers? At least it makes the sport sound more interesting.

perhaps Starman you can head up the second cricket team which might be callled Yildizlar.

off topic posts binned.

first and last warning: keep this thread on topic (cricket) or it will get binned not to be discussed on EiT again.

thanks,
EiT Team

"Excuse me Seggers, I don't want to interrupt your discussion of Arabic etymology, but we have a letter here from Mrs. Bateman in Eastbourne about fruit cake, and Oh look! they're taking the covers off here in Istanbul. We may have a chance of getting in a few overs before tea!"

"Well that's wonderful news, Arrers. And it looks as if the players are coming out... Yes, play will shortly resume in this first-ever Turkish test. The local side are chasing England's 136 runs and are 30 for no loss at the Oz Kanka memorial ground. The umpires are ready. There's a dolmus going down the road behind the E5 end and the sun's back in the sky. Glorious weather for cricket by the Bosphorus. The bowler's Holding. The batman's Koc...."

Quick question jc:

Do we get caps if we play for Turkey? Should I start clearing a space on the wall now?

hey i heard about cricket in Istanbul yesterday only ...
let me know how can i enroll? i am looking forward for it ..

please consider introducing yourself first in this forum

[url="http://forum.expatinturkey.com/viewforum.php?f=27"]New Member Introductions[/url]
Please introduce yourself by telling us a little something about you.
All new members should introduce themselves before posting.

it is only polite and you'll find people are a lot more forthcoming in answering your questions

FD

Just got back from Australia, got myself some whites, eight indoor cricket balls (as requested by Syed), a box and have put in an order for a red cap with the crescent and star on it.

I would be keen on the same too...Are we guys having a regular game somewhere?

ah a spot of cricket then chaps.

when do you next play???

having dual nationality with turkey i am eligble to play under their flag