Once a hub for young cricketers in Selangor, Kelab PJ has revived its junior development programme (JDP) in partnership with La Salle Petaling Jaya, rekindling interest in the sport that had waned during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Cricket’s decline post-2000 was largely due to changes in school sports policies and demographic shifts,” club cricket convenor AS Peter Savarimuthu told FMT. “The pandemic only worsened the situation, with strict lockdowns halting sports activities and funding being redirected elsewhere.”
First launched in the late 1980s and under prominent cricket coach Mike Nathan’s guidance, the juniors programme was instrumental in developing young talent, some of whom went on to represent Selangor, in other states and national teams.
Weekly coaching sessions had been a regular fixture at the club until operations ceased in late 2019 due to dwindling support and, later, the Covid-19 lockdowns.
A renewed partnership with La Salle Petaling Jaya secondary school, whose headmaster Gunalan Arumugam is a cricket enthusiast, with backing from parents and teachers from several schools, led to the juniors programme being reintroduced.
The first weekly clinics had 40 students from five schools attending, with the number increasing up to 70 boys from seven schools in PJ district, before settling at an average of 45 participants in the past six months.
“Our post-pandemic restart was driven by a desire to reintroduce cricket as a meaningful sport for primary schoolchildren. The response from the students and their parents was very encouraging,” AS Peter said.
Sessions are conducted by certified coach and former teacher Ramani Batumalai, whose approach focuses not just on cricketing technique but on life skills such as discipline, confidence and teamwork.
“Coach Ramani’s passion and structured training clearly showed during our recent tournament. The kids played with remarkable confidence,” AS Peter said.
An inter-JDP tournament in memory of Nathan was held last recently which was also aimed at providing the youngsters with some match exposure, he added.
Why cricket lost ground
AS Peter, who has long been involved in grassroots cricket in Selangor and as an ex-secretary of the state association, acknowledged that the sport’s profile has dimmed in recent years.
“Cricket was quite popular in the 1960s through to the early 2000s, but demographic shifts and changing priorities in school sports policies led to a gradual decline.”
The Covid-19 pandemic dealt another blow. Strict lockdowns, lack of access to large playing fields and funding being redirected away from niche sports meant that many junior programmes like the JDP lost momentum.
“Compared to football or badminton, cricket needs more space and specific gear. That made it harder to sustain interest during lockdowns.”
A revival in sight
Despite the challenges, he sees signs of hope, particularly with cricket’s inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
“This could be a turning point. It gives Malaysia a reason to reintroduce cricket in schools more seriously,” he said, urging education authorities to consider reinstating cricket in the school curriculum.
The club has plans to expand the age range or add more schools. This move has been temporarily shelved due to a shortage of trained coaches and it is working closely with the Selangor Cricket Association to build capacity for future growth.
Their goal is simple: to create a pipeline of confident, disciplined young players who can one day represent the state or even the country. “We may not play cricket the way some expect, but what drives us is the passion to see it thrive again.”
