Gujarat core developed cricket in Kenya too

Back in 1975, a cricket club was a means for the Maninagar Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan community to blend into the Kenyan community. No one imagined that the club formed under the stewardship of its then spiritual leader, Muktajivan Swamibapa, would turn out to be a nursery for Kenyan national cricket players.

Players like Rushab Patel, Morris Ouma, Joseph Koech, Alex Obanda, Elijah Otieno, Tony Suji and Nehemiah Odhiambo Ngoche and others belong to the Swamibapa CC. In all, more than 25 of the club’s players have made it to the national team.

Of the members of the club team, 80% were from the Asian community while 20% were African.

The club’s London teams play in the Middlesex League since 1987. Its Bolton teams play in the Cosmopolitian League and the Nairobi teams play in the National Provincial Cricket Association matches. Shashi Sanghani, the Swamibapa CC treasurer says, "I have played for the club for 25 years. Swamibapa CC has become a household name in

Kenya

because of its promotion of native Kenyan cricketers."