“Cricket is a good game; in England you are safe to play and there is not too much pressure so you can just enjoy it.”
Taking to the village wicket week in and week out is almost a walk in the park for refugee Imran Oriykhail, who has come from playing on the fields of Afghanistan to the suburbs of Weston-super-Mare looking for a safer life.
His involvement at the Somerset club may only be a recent commitment, but one which has turned out to be an integral part of integrating to his new life in the UK.
Placed with a foster family alongside two other Afghan refugees, 17-year-old Imran was able to quickly acclimatise to his new home and a new language thanks to the club which welcomed him with open arms.
Imran quickly made a name for himself with a five-wicket haul during his debut at the Somerset League Premier Division for the first XI against Staplegrove in April, before joining the team in the UK’s largest grassroots cricketing competition, the Voneus Village Cup.
“The same day I moved to my foster family, I went to Thursday training at Uphill Castle," Imran said. “I played as a child with a tennis ball on my village cricket pitch in Afghanistan, but using the hardball was difficult for me at the start but with practice I now find it better.
“In Afghanistan, the pitches have stones; in the UK, the pitches are very good, but the matches are very long, and I also found it very challenging to play matches during Ramadan, because I was hungry, thirsty, and tired from fasting.”
Imran left his home nation late in 2021 and has travelled thousands of miles through mainland Europe to his new home, and despite having to learn how to play with a hardball on a new wicket-type, the spinning all-rounder has since become a reliable part of Uphill Castle’s bowling attack.
Since joining the club in April, Imran has delivered the most overs out of any player in the squad this season and helped his side’s efforts with 18 wickets at an average of 34.78.
In fact, Imran has become such an integral part of the Uphill Castle team that the club sought special dispensation from the Voneus Village Cup organisers to allow him to play in the competition, which has strict rules on overseas competitors.
Thankfully for the club, approval was granted, and Imran took to the field for the club’s second round clash against Timsbury CC in May. Unfortunately, he was unable to help guide the club to a victory, falling to a 17-run defeat.
“I remember this game; I enjoyed it but was also disappointed because we ended up all out and lost the match!” Imran said.
"Everybody has welcomed me to the club; they are kind, always help me, and I am happy. Tom [Elstone] and Charlie [Huke] are funny and they make me laugh, and Paddy (Holyday) is a good captain and gives me good advice.”
Paddy Holyday, captain of Uphill Castle’s first XI, said: “Imran has been a fantastic addition to the club this season and it is clear he is incredibly passionate about the sport and the side.
“We aim to make the club as welcoming as we possibly can to anyone who is interested in the sport, and Imran and the fellow members of his foster family have quickly become part of the fabric of the wider club and its community.
“They are all excellent players and we are keen to see them continue on their cricketing journeys with the rest of the Uphill Castle squad as we begin preparations for next season.”
While the season may be coming to a close for Imran, he will be using the time away from the wicket to spend time with his new friends in the community and deepen his knowledge of the English language so he can return for 2023 with a renewed focus on helping the club.
“Uphill Castle have welcomed me, helped me, and given me the opportunity to play the game I love, and I want to thank them for that,” Imran added.
This year’s Voneus Village Cup has seen more than 300 village cricket clubs across England, Scotland, and Wales take part in the competition. For more information on this year’s journey to Lord’s and how your club can take part in the 2023 edition, visit www.nationalvillagecup.com.
