A brief history of cricket

Cricket in Panama

Cricket in Panama have been played for more than 85 years. it started when when West Indian labourers came here for the construction of the Panama Canal.

There also was a team representing the English Embassy in Panama. At that time when the English boats that were on transit across the Panama Canal stopped for refueling, the crew used that time to play cricket with teams that were established here.

Later, the Indian (Muslim) community in Panama began to get involved with the West Indian community and began to play cricket in the West Indian teams As the Indian immigrant community grew those of Muslim background were able to field its own team and later began to play with two Hindus cricket teams established at that time. The West Indians teams began to disappear in time as interest waned and the older West Indian players died. It is worth noting that one of the greatest of all West Indian cricketers, George Headley, grandfather of the present English Test cricketer Dean Headley was Panamanian by birth.

Eventually, there were 4 "Muslim" teams and 2 "Hindu" teams and the first tournament was played in that time. Unfortunately religious rivalry between Muslims and Hindus became a major problem that affected cricket. In time with continued growth of the immigrant community, separate tournaments have evolved. At present there is only a single West Indian team that plays in the Muslim tournamment, and only 4 players of that team are West Indian and the rest of the players are Muslims.