Teen female cricketer gets US invite

27 Apr, 2014 - 00:04 0 Views

The Sunday News

Bruce Chimani Sports Correspondent
AT 19, Zimbabwe national women’s cricket team player Tasmeen Granger (pictured) is proving to be a force to be reckoned with in the world of cricket as she has made plausible strides towards iconic status in the local cricket scene.
The former Petra High School pupil recently got a call up to play for Can Am United women’s cricket team which is an all volunteer team of women from Canada and the United States of America.

The tournament is slated on the American calendared Memorial Day Weekend – May 24-25 in Atlanta, Georgia and will see back-to-back (2012 and 2013) champions Atlantis Cricket Club from New York, challenged by Cayman Islands, Texas Thunderboltz, Can Am United, an Invitational XI, and the home team Atlanta Pearls.

Granger said the opportunity to play for the Cam Am side came after she had been in constant contact with the team’s manager who eventually offered her an opportunity to play for the side at the annual tournament.

“I have been in communication with some of the people from Canada including the manager because we once participated in the same competition in Ireland last year and that is when we met. I have been keeping them informed with some of my statistics and they eventually asked me if I would be interested in playing for them at the Atlanta Women’s fourth annual T20 tournament, provided I get myself there – all expenses when I am there will be taken care of,” she disclosed last Wednesday.

The Tuskers Women cricket team captain said she hopes the opportunity would allow her to be exposed to how women’s cricket is run on that side of the world, which would be beneficial to her career both as a coach and player.

Granger coaches youngsters at the Heath Streak Academy and attained a Level One coaching certificate in December.

“I will definitely learn what attracts women to the sport that side and hopefully that exposure will assist me in my coaching as we seek to make the sport viable enough for us to be counted among the best. As a player though, the opportunity will also allow me to learn one or two things. It’s really humbling that I am the first player from Africa to have been invited for this particular tournament – some of the players who have played in this tournament are from Europe. I do hope it allows me more opportunities in the near future and in the long run as my career builds up,” she added.

Tasmeen started playing cricket at the age of 13 at Petra High School where she had to play with boys because there was no girls cricket team. She says her passion for the sport had always been there but she got the final push after meeting former South African captain Graeme Smith and the Zimbabwe senior team after a match at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.

“I always liked the sport but after meeting Graeme Smith, the South African and Zimbabwean first teams, I got inspired to actually play – I was 13 then. I played with boys and I did learn a lot then. Eventually I got to play for Tuskers and I have been captaining the team since I was 17,” she said.

The Can Amen Women’s Cricket team Facebook page is awash with some of Granger’s photos as they praised her and called her their favourite player from Zimbabwe, which was a clear indication of how much the national team player’s right handed batter is appreciated by the Canadian/American team.

“Tasmeen Granger of the Zimbabwe National Women’s Cricket Team has publicly confirmed her membership with us. Tasmeen had earlier committed to joining the team but Can Am’s announcement was delayed as she sought clearance from her Cricket Zimbabwe coach.

Tasmeen is a Level 1 ICC coach and is currently coaching an under-15 team at her former high school in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Welcome aboard Tasmeen – see you at the Atlanta Women’s T20 Tournament in May!” read a post on the team’s Facebook page.

Petal Samuels, the chief co-ordinator behind the Atlanta Women’s T20 tournament wrote on the T20 International blog:

“Cricket is the first sport for the majority of the women who participate in the tournament. They are migrants who have represented their countries of birth at national and international levels. This year the tournament will see an increased number of qualified women coaches participating, Joy Jones of Atlantis Cricket Club- NY, Durriya Shabbir, and Tasmeen Granger, all ICC Level 1 coaches, and Monali Patel currently completing her Level 3 with Cricket Australia.

“Atlantis Cricket Club from New York is the defending champion, and are the odds-on favourite, more so since they have won the tournament for two consecutive years. However, Canada is expected to field a very strong semi-national team, as well as the Cayman Islands. The tournament is expected to be very competitive and entertaining,” he told the website.

Granger has to raise U$3 000 for her visa and air ticket to the US and she will leave on 18 May if she is successful in raising the required funds.

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