Japan – Bashers Invited to Mt Fuji

For reasons I never quite understood the power brokers of cricket in Shanghai have turned their backs on our friends in Japan for a few seasons now. There was a time when the Japanese girls used to light up the cricket calender here and a Miyaji san inspired White Knights Sixes team swept all before them allowing BadaBing to keep the last Intl sixes trophy. Four years ago a Bashers laden Shanghai team enjoyed a great tour to Japan where we were fortunate to witness one of crickets great spectacles…..a zen fueled Woodstock steaming in from the Mt Fuji end.

Subsequently the Japanese womens captain had donated her time to help out at a kids sporting charity here in Shanghai and their Japan Cricket’s CEO joined a few Bashers on a trip to the school in Sichuan. The Bashers of course reciprocated and supported the Japanese in their time of need after the Earthquake.

The good news is last night the Shanghai based sponsors of Japan, Pakistan and Korean womens decided enough is enough and international cricket will return to Shanghai next year… ground booked, sponsors aligned…the girls will be back!

The Japanese Cricket Association are extremely well run, their hospitality second to none, their girls team really are something unique and in years gone by Shanghai was an important part of the annual calender.  As such the Japanese would welcome the Bashers to Japan so if the Bashers Ctte is interested let me know.  If you look back at the history of Shanghai sport there used to be regular Interport rugby and sometimes cricket games against Yokohama. We still maintain a rugby relationship with Japan thru the SRFC but  I do think Shanghai is missing a trick by not  maintaining a cricket relationship with them.  Bashers can fix that. Mt Fuji cricket ground, Bashers, Japanese hospitality and huge night out in Roponggi….it all makes sense.