An evening to remember

(Four months ago, a few like-minded and dedicated folks formed the Cricket Association of Nebraska. The organization, of which I am the President, has gone from scratch to having a fully-functional charter, non-profit status, a dedicated ground to play on, organizing cricket demonstrations and coaching camps for school kids, and playing in the Heartland Cricket League.

If you wish to know more about the organization or its activities you can contact me at csmanish13 at gmail dot com.)

(C.S. Manish 2010)

(C.S. Manish 2010)

The Cricket Association of Nebraska (CAN) was formed with the main mandate of popularizing and spreading cricket among the local population of Nebraska and beyond. In keeping with this goal, on June 26^th, 2010, CAN organized a fundraiser - India Night 2010 - a fun-filled evening dedicated to entertaining guests while introducing them to the sport of cricket. Guests at the event were treated to a combination of good food, cultural programs, presentations on cricket, and dance music courtesy of James from SupaFly Promotions (DJ).

(C.S. Manish 2010)

The evening began with an Indian cultural dance, Kuchipudi, performed by Kranti and Keerthi, of Omaha, NE. The graceful dancers kept the audience enthralled and it was the perfect way to start the proceedings. Melissa Kandido, of Omaha, NE, remarked, "The dancers were wonderful and their outfits so pretty. Learning the dance would be something I would be interested in, if there was an opportunity." After the dance, dinner was served. The food was catered by Flavors, an Indian restaurant in downtown Omaha, and was appreciated by everyone, so much so that many guests went back for seconds and thirds before the evening was done. While the guests enjoyed the food, they were entertained with music from the DJ and a Powerpoint presentation on Cricket and India.

(C.S. Manish 2010)

Swarit Agarwal of Omaha, NE, then gave a presentation on cricket, comparing and contrasting it with baseball. Using a mix of Powerpoint slides and video clips, Swarit explained the rudimentary points of the game. The 10 minute presentation turned into a 45 minute program as the audience members actively participated in it by asking numerous questions about the game and how it is played. Keith Kramme of Fremont, NE, was intrigued by the sport. "I coach women's softball and found it really fascinating to hear so much about cricket. There are so many similarities and, yet, there are so many differences (from softball) which make it so interesting to me."

Kranti and Keerthi then came back and danced to the beats of a Bollywood number, to great appreciation from the guests. With this the mood had been set and the audience members were asked to come onto the main floor and dance to music by the DJ. The DJ played an eclectic mix of Western and Indian tunes and it was a good way to round off the evening. Jason Blohm of Omaha, NE, was very pleased with the occasion.  "It was a very fun and educational evening. My wife (Amber) and I loved the food. It was cool to meet different people and hear about a new sport, while having a very good time. We will definitely be back for the next event."

(C.S. Manish 2010)

Adding to the fun element of the evening was the giving way of 5 prizes - two from a ticket-drawing and three from a raffle.  The winners received (among other things) a decorative set of wall hangings from India, gift baskets, and gift cards from Godfather's Pizza.

Declaring the event a "grand success", Dr. C.S. Manish, the President of CAN remarked, "I would like to thank each and every one of the 161 guests who purchased a ticket for the event and supported our endeavor, far exceeding our initial expectations. More than 120 of them had never been exposed to cricket before and to hear their questions, gauge their interest in the game, and watch them interact with the other guests was very heart-warming. Cricket can successfully spread only with the active involvement of the local community and not just the expatriate one. To go from being a niche sport to a mainstream one will require many such events that will bridge the gap between the game and its audience."

If you are interested in providing us with feedback about the event or would like to contact us for information about our next event or other cricketing activities, please drop us an email at nebraskacc@gmail.com. Or you may contact us through our website: http://www.nebraskacc.com.