How football-mad countries like Brazil are witnessing a cricket revolution

For the past three years, the world has been battling one of the worst pandemics in modern history. However, sports like cricket have been thriving, giving hope for a brighter tomorrow.

Although there are only 12 full members in the ICC, the sport's governing body is confident that more teams will join the elite group from many countries and territories worldwide.

Cricket is played in over 130 countries, many of whom are associate members but do not play Test, ODI, and T20 cricket.

However, that could change given the popularity cricket is currently enjoying, even in countries that are fundamentally known for their passion for football.

With the ICC expanding the Men's T20 World Cup to a 20-team tournament from 2024 onwards, there are chances that fans eventually might see some football-mad countries in cricket's biggest showpiece.

But more importantly, it's quite heartening for cricket fans to see their favourite sport gaining a foothold in football-mad countries.

Let's take a look at five football-loving countries where cricket is now becoming popular.

BRAZIL

Cricket in Brazil started in the mid-1800s when British residents living in Rio de Janeiro formed a few cricket clubs. However, the native population took very little interest in the game.

The Brazil Cricket Association (BCA) was formed in 1922. In 2001 Brazil became an ICC Affiliate Member.

In recent years, an all-Brazilian women's team has been making waves by winning the South American Cricket Championships four times which helped spark a cricket craze. Today, there are over 509,000 cricketers in the country.

JAPAN

Like Brazil, Japanese people were introduced to cricket by the British in the 1860s, but it was only in the 1980s that it began to develop with the launch of the Miyagimura Cup, which became the 40-over Japan Cricket League. The Japan Cup was established in 2010, and the Japan Premier League in 2014.

The men's team began playing internationals in 1996 as part of the Asia Cricket Council, and the first International success came in the ICC EAP Cricket Cup in 2005 and 2007. The latter victory promoted Japan to the World Cricket League from 2008 – 201.

Meanwhile, the Japanese women made the headlines when they won the Bronze Medal at the Asian Games in 2010, behind Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Japan's most recent success came in 2020 when their Men's Under 19 team qualified for the Under 19 World Cup in South Africa.

Although they were unable to win a game, it led to a spurt in cricket numbers in the country.

THAILAND

Thai students fell in love with the game in England and brought it back to Thailand.

The national team played its first international against Hong Kong in 1990 and became an affiliate member of the ICC in 1995.

Women's cricket only began in 2007 but has since become one of the most prolific Associates in the game's history. They are the proud record holders for the highest number of consecutive T20I wins against full ICC members, including Sri Lanka, Ireland, and Zimbabwe.

There are seven turf wickets, fourteen active cricket-playing provinces, and three national academies in the country.

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