Cricket / Israel to play ODIs against India A for 60th anniversary
By Haaretz Sports Staff
The Israel Cricket Association yesterday announced plans for three one-day internationals to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the state.
The Israeli team, which will be comprised of Jewish players from South Africa, Australia, Ireland and India, will face India A - one of the strongest national teams in the world.
Advertisement
The top attraction for the three one-dayers will be Jonty Rhodes, the former South Africa all-rounder who retired from cricket five years ago, but remains a valued friend of the Israeli game. Rhodes will be joined on the Israel 60th Anniversary XI by the Netherlands' Roland Lefebvre - who has been involved in coaching cricket in Israel for many years - as well as Bensiyon Songavkar, an Indian Jew who has represented Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy.
The three one-dayers will be held in Tel Aviv and Ashdod from July 13-16, according to Stanley Perlman, the chairman of the Israel Cricket Association. Perlman told Haaretz yesterday that he was particularly happy at being able to give an international look to the Israel 60th Anniversary XI, which will feature Adam Bacher (South Africa), Steven Herzberg (Australia), Jason and Greg Molins (Ireland) as well as Songavkar.
The Israeli contingent includes left-arm spinner Solomon Varsulkar, who is in the middle of his military service, and wicketkeeper Shai Chayun, who still in high school.
"It was very difficult to find enough first-class cricketers from around the world who are Jewish," said Perlman, who is also an International Cricket Council board member. "But as you can see, we finally managed to get a cricketer even from India."
"I just hope that Solomon gets leave, and that Shai's exams don't clash with this event," Perlman quipped. "Israel celebrated its 60th birthday recently and it is a very special occasion for us. Believe it or not, no other sport here has organized any such celebration, and I am so happy cricket is the game that has gone ahead. It is also a great opportunity to bring in a group of good cricketers and show Israel what the game is all about. My first thought was, who would I want to celebrate this with? The answer was clear: my friends from India, who share very rich historical ties with us."
Songavkar, 22, a left-handed batsman and right-arm off-spinner who works for Indian Railways, commented: "I will be playing against an Indian team in Israel for an Israeli team, and that will be a bit strange. But I am looking forward to the trip."
Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
