The Chiang Mai International Cricket Sixes is one of the largest amateur cricket tournaments in the world and one of the most long-lasting, having been played for the first time in 1988.
Last year saw a great celebration as the tournament was held for the 30th time and 2018 sees the completion of a full 30 years of a wonderful event that brings hundreds of people to visit the historic city of Chiang Mai each year.
The 2018 Chiang Mai Sixes runs from Sunday the 1st to Saturday the 7th of April at the Chiang Mai Gymkhana Club and it has just been confirmed that 36 men’s teams will take part at the Sixes this year, along with four ladies teams, so there is a chance for cricketers of all abilities to win a trophy.
Many well-known international players have taken part in the Sixes over the last 30 years including former England captain Mike Gatting who summed up the unique atmosphere of the Chiang Mai event: “this tournament is all about making friends and I have enjoyed myself immensely”.
Teams from all over the world have taken part in the Sixes and the Bashundhara Cricketeers from Bangladesh have often been the team to beat over the past decade. The NCL Dynamites are travelling from Dhaka this year looking to win the Cup, along with a veteran team full of former Bangladesh Test players who are looking to remind spectators of their great talent.
But the tournament is not just about the overseas teams as a host of Chiang Mai local teams also take part in the competition with the young Thai cricketers particularly enjoying the experience of playing on such a big stage.
The Chiang Mai Sixes doesn’t just give young Thai cricketers the chance to play cricket once a year, it supports the great work done by Chiang Mai Schools Cricket Alliance by providing coaching in local schools, it pays for under-privileged Thai children’s educational needs through the Hill Tribe Fund.
Local children really seem to benefit from playing cricket and the youngsters who play for the Lanna Thais team were delighted when they were able to take the field in brand new cricket shoes. Many of the kids come from deprived backgrounds so could never afford to buy their own footwear and their shoes will now be their most prized possessions.
Full coverage of the Chiang Mai Sixes can be found on www.chiangmaisixes.cricket which will also offer live streaming of every match and ball by ball scorecard updates.
