Aashray Chapagai, Contributing Writer

Though cricket is one of the most popular sports in the world—especially in South Asia, England, Australia, and the Caribbean—it has only recently found a home at Sewanee. 

If you’ve ever walked across the Quad or inside the Fowler Center and have seen a group of students excitedly swinging a bat at a tennis ball, you’ve just seen a game of Cricket. The Sewanee Cricket Club, a newly-founded student-run organization, was initiated by Sanjana Priyonti (C ’28), who wanted to bring the game to the Domain. 

For those unfamiliar with the game, cricket is played between two teams of 11 players, though casual games often have fewer. One team bats while the other bowls and fields.  Bowling refers to delivering the ball toward the batsman (the one who scores runs), while fielding involves positioning players strategically to stop runs and take catches. What’s the objective? The batting team scores runs by hitting the ball and running between wickets, while the bowling team tries to dismiss the batters by hitting the stumps, catching the ball, or forcing errors. A match can last anywhere from a few hours to five days, depending on the format.

One of the most exciting aspects of the Sewanee Cricket Club is its diversity. Some have played cricket their whole lives, while others are picking up a bat for the first time. Karim Morgan (C ’28) from Egypt and Nicholas Astudillo (C ‘27) from Ecuador, for example, had only ever watched a couple of high-stakes cricket matches but never thought of playing the sport themselves.

“I had no plans of playing cricket, but once I tried it, I realized how fun it is.” Morgan admitted. Astudillo added, “The best part about the Cricket Club here on campus is about playing with people from all over the world.” 

Both Morgan and Astudillo appreciate the informal and welcoming atmosphere of Sewanee’s cricket scene. “We play in the Quad or the Fowler Center, and most of the time our stumps are just trash cans or chairs. It’s nothing fancy, but that’s what makes it fun—you don’t need much to have a good game.” Whether you’re an experienced player or someone who’s never picked up a bat before, there’s always room to join, learn, and enjoy the game.

Dr. Husnain Ahmad, the Faculty Advisor for the club, recalls how cricket was introduced at Sewanee. “About six to seven years ago, faculty members and students, particularly from South Asia, would gather to play cricket on weekends,” he shared. “We usually played with South Asians who were part of the Sewanee community, but the sport was never structured as a club until now.” He credits Priyonti for this initiative. 

Priyonti, originally from Bangladesh, grew up surrounded by cricket. Back home, it was a nationwide tradition for her. When she arrived at Sewanee, she was surprised that while a small cricketing community existed, there was no formal club to bring players together. That’s when she decided to take the initiative.

“Cricket has always been a huge part of my life,” she shared. “I wanted to create a space where people—whether they grew up with the sport or had never played before—could come together and enjoy it.” 

“One of the best moments for me was seeing students from completely different backgrounds— someone from Ecuador, someone from the USA, someone from India—all playing together and genuinely enjoying the game. I believe that’s what makes this club special,” she said. 

But, starting the club wasn’t easy for Priyonti. Finding a proper playing space, securing equipment, and getting official recognition from the University were all obstacles that needed to be overcome. “We started with nothing—just a bat and a ball— and, now, we have an official club, regular games, and students who genuinely look forward to playing,” Priyonti reflected.

Both Priyonti and Ahmad believe that cricket is slowly becoming a bigger part of campus life. “Although there were [originally] very few people playing cricket on campus… the sport is gaining traction among students. Because of the club, students are connecting through cricket, which gives them a space to share a common interest,” Ahmad said.

The Sewanee Cricket Club is already doing great things on campus. When asked about future cricket plans, Ahmad said, “In a year or two, we might start seeing people come out to watch matches, host cricket viewing parties, and things like that. For now, the best way to support the club is to give it time to grow. As the club gains more momentum, students and faculty will have more opportunities to get involved and help elevate cricket’s presence on campus.” 

If you are interested, follow the @sewanee_cricket_club on Instagram. Cricket games are held every Sunday at 3 p.m. on the Quad.