A day of cricket, community and new experiences in the heart of the Swiss Alps
What a fantastic day in Gstaad!
Cricket Switzerland recently co-hosted the Gstaad Cricket Festival together with Gstaad Cricket Club, with a simple but important ambition: to introduce cricket to the local community and give people of all ages the opportunity to discover and experience the sport for the first time.
The response was fantastic. Around 50 participants joined the festival, with the youngest just five years old and the oldest 78. For many, it was their first ever experience of cricket.
And there were plenty of smiles, curiosity, enthusiasm and lots of cricket!
Bringing a new sport to the community
The festival took place in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. Children ran across the field trying out the bat and ball, while parents and other members of the community watched, participated and discovered a sport that was new to many of them.
The day began with an introduction to cricket, followed by hands-on coaching at batting, bowling and fielding stations. Participants had the opportunity to learn the basic skills and techniques of the game while enjoying a fun and informal sporting experience.
For Cricket Switzerland, this is exactly what introducing cricket to new communities is about — making the sport accessible, welcoming and enjoyable for everyone.
A passion for cricket comes to Gstaad
At the heart of the initiative is Sathya Narayanan, founder of Gstaad Cricket Club.
Gstaad is an international community, bringing together people from many different nationalities and backgrounds. The establishment of Gstaad Cricket Club offers an opportunity to introduce a sport that can bring these communities together.
The festival demonstrated that potential perfectly. People who may otherwise never have encountered cricket came together on the same field, learned the game and enjoyed the experience together.
From coaching to Pairs Cricket
Following a delicious lunch hosted by Gstaad Cricket Club, the afternoon moved into a lively session of Pairs Cricket.
The format was an instant hit, particularly with the younger participants. The children quickly became absorbed in the game and many continued playing well after the official programme had ended.
For some, what began as a first introduction to cricket was already turning into a desire to play more.
That enthusiasm is perhaps the most encouraging outcome of the festival.
Cricket as a bridge between communities
The Gstaad Cricket Festival also highlighted something that cricket has demonstrated repeatedly around Switzerland and around the world: sport can create connections between people who might otherwise never meet.
Cricket brings together people of different ages, nationalities and backgrounds. In Gstaad, a five-year-old discovering how to hold a cricket bat shared the field with adults experiencing the sport for the first time — creating a common experience through sport.
For Cricket Switzerland, developing cricket is not only about competitions and national teams. It is also about taking the game into new communities, creating opportunities for young people and using cricket as a means of participation, integration and connection.
A new chapter for cricket in Gstaad
Sathya brings considerable experience to the development of cricket in the region. Having started playing at the age of five or six in India, he continued his cricketing journey in Switzerland, representing clubs and Switzerland internationally and taking part in tournaments across Europe.
Today, that experience is being channelled into creating opportunities for others to discover the game.
The Gstaad Cricket Festival was an important first step in that journey.
Cricket Switzerland was represented at the event by General Manager Asvin Lakkaraju, Board Directors Abraham Koshy and Jay Singh, Head of Match Officials Mandar Sathe, International Umpire Onesimus Koilraj, and Coach Asad Mahmood.
Gstaad Cricket Club was represented by its founders Sathyanarayanan and Linda Sathyanarayanan, whose vision and commitment helped bring the festival to life.
A huge thank you also goes to the Gstaad community, volunteers, coaches and everyone who participated and helped create such a memorable day.
The festival may have lasted only a day, but its impact could last much longer.
A few young people left Gstaad wanting to play cricket. New connections were made. A new community discovered a new sport.
And perhaps, on that Alpine cricket field, the next generation of Gstaad cricketers took their very first steps. A great start to taking cricket across the Alpine landscape.
