Cricket Fever in Kuching, Mohd Hariz Afnan Aims High at SUKMA, Drawing Inspiration from MS Dhoni

KUCHING: For all the cricket enthusiasts out there, cricket is making waves and with the recent launch of the cricket field there is potential for the sport to continue to rise.

The new cricket ground could benefit young cricketer Mohd Hariz Afnan, 18, who will compete in the upcoming Malaysia Games (SUKMA) Sarawak.

Mohd Hariz has been playing cricket since he was 5-years old and draws inspiration from Mahendra Singh Dhoni better known as MS Doni.

“Currently my favourite player is the legendary MS Dhoni, former cricket player and captain for India and to me one of the greatest players ever,” he said.

Mohd Hariz who is an all rounder and is reliable to play in various positions hopes to follow in his idol’s footsteps who plays as a right handed batter and a wicket-keeper.

 “We recently came back from Sri Lanka, it is such an experience because the quality of players and the level is so high compared to Malaysia.

 “Everywhere we go, even outside the city, in the outskirts of Sri Lanka. Cricket is like how football is here in Malaysia,” he told Sarawak Tribune in an interview recently. 

Mohd Hariz who is the fourth child among six siblings hopes to have a go at the Malaysia Games and will attempt to do his best.

He will be eager to apply the knowledge and experience he gained in Sri Lanka when SUKMA arrives. 

Coach Chew Pok Cheong

Meanwhile, Coach Chew Pok Cheong hopes for the men’s T10 team to vie for a gold medal and semi final for the T20.

“The tough competitors for both formats would be the Federal Territories, Selangor and Perak.

“Selangor and Perak from current observations at the under-19 tournament, they have the most national players and they come from these teams,” he said.

Chew said that the women’s cricket team has a strong chance to win gold based on their past statistics and their performance at the women’s under-19 tournament. 

“They were runners-up two years ago and third place this year. Most of the players are the same, though there have been a few changes (for this year’s SUKMA),” he said.

For the Malaysia Games (SUKMA), the Sarawak men’s T10 team is in Group A, alongside Perak and the Federal Territories. The men’s T20 team is placed in Group B, competing against Melaka, Kelantan, and the Federal Territories.

The women’s T10 team is also in Group A, where they will face Johor, Pahang, and Selangor.

Recently, the Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Datuk Seri Abdul Karim said that cricket is on the rise in Sarawak and the new cricket ground which was launched on Aug 2 will further boost the sport’s popularity.

“Cricket is one of the sports that will be contested in the SUKMA, which will start in two weeks.

“However, if we look at the situation before, there was no dedicated cricket ground in Sarawak. Thankfully, the Sarawak government has provided a site, and the ground has been constructed,” he said.

He also added that cricket is one of the most popular sports globally based on viewership.

“That’s why promoting cricket, especially in schools, is important.  Cricket is easier to learn compared to other sports and does not require a large space. Unlike cycling, which needs a large area, or swimming, which requires a swimming pool, cricket only needs a field,” he said.

A group photo of the Sarawak men’s cricket team