The History of IFCR

The Origins of IFCR (International Fellowship of Cricket Loving Rotarians) This is what Geoffrey Pike, President and Founder of the Rotary Cricket Fellowship, said in 1993. It was at the Rotary International Assembly at Nashville in 1986 that the idea of an exchange of parties of cricket-playing Rotarians between districts in the United Kingdom and India was discussed.

There then followed several years of exchanges between India, South Africa and the West Indies and it became clear that a new Rotary Vocational Fellowship would succeed and on 25th May 1993 the formal launching of the International Fellowship of Cricket Loving Rotarians took place in the Long Room of the Melbourne Cricket Club courtesy of the Australian Cricket Board.

Tours have since taken place between Australia, India, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka and United Kingdom. The incoming tourists have not only been able to enjoy the delights of a new country seen through the eyes of their Rotarian hosts but they have also acted as “missionaries” and have shown that even though one’s body may have declined the enjoyment of the game has not diminished.

There are many examples of people who thought their playing days had long gone but have realised that Rotary cricket is played at a more sedate pace. Even the Australian sledging is more polite in Rotary cricket. We have also established regular World Festivals. The first was in Fording bridge in England in 1997.

This was followed by Chennai, India in 1999 and Christchurch, New Zealand in 2002. The next one was held in the Hunter Valley, Australia in November 2004. Just like the Olympics they get bigger and better each time. But IFCR is not just about playing cricket. It is just the excuse for bringing together the fellowship that Rotary and cricket combines so uniquely.

Long may it survive. And the fellowship has continued to grow in enjoyment and sport and world wide fellowship now into the 2020's. In the above scenario, in India Rtn.KRP Sarathy from RID 3150 Hyderabad with active support from Rtn.Kittu of RID 3230 Chennai (the then Chairman of IFCR in India) dreamt big to launch a properly structured country body for IFCR in India since the roots sown in India late 90s were in fragmented state.

Sarathy was greatly motivated to do so after he participated and experienced the wonderfully organized 5th IFCR World Cricket Festival in Colombo in August 2007, along with 18-member strong team He also took a 13 member IFCR Hyderabad team to participate in IFCR Australia festival at Bundaberg in 2008.

Rubbing shoulders with 250 and odd Rotarians across the Rotary world in Colombo festival and prevalence of the proud national flavor (with common jerseys/jackets of each of the other participating countries) was a lasting impression he carried back to India which resulted in a firm resolve that India would participate in future IFCR festivals with a similar cohesive country unit instead of fragmented individual units from different Rotary districts of India.

Thus, was born IFCR (India) as a well-structured country unit in May 2009, with the unanimous election of Kittu as Charter Chairman, KRP Sarathy as Charter Secretary and Neel as the treasurer. So what IFCR (world) later witnessed in 6th World Cricket Festival in Durban, South Africa during March 2010 was a rejuvenated and new born IFCR (India), with common jerseys/ jackets and national tricolor logo/flag predominant and participation of 7 teams (comprising nearly 130 IFCRians from India) which was more than 50% of total participation dream really turned into a reality not only for Kittu ,Sarathy & Neel but to the whole IFCR fraternity in India.

The enormous gains from above "EVOLUTION OF IFCR” are that IFCR (India) has now a well-structured country body elected by AGM during every World festival and has a single window communication/co-ordination for participation in all international events including World Festivals. Conducting a world class 7th World festival in Vapi India in 2012 (with Vipul as Festival Chair) has a well-planned tournament/ festival calendar for the country activities with two to three annual all India events.

Meanwhile Mike Jackson of GB&I in his long tenure as International Chair of IFCR held its progress steadily in mid-2000 until he made way to David Horsley in 2010 and later Kittu took over in 2012, Ravi Raman in 2014, Bob Brigden in 2017 and Sarathy from 2019 onwards. Also five more world festivals were successfully hosted by South Africa in Durban ( 6th WRF 2010) Vapi in India ( 7th WRF 2012) GB&I in Nottingham ( 8th WRF 2014) New Zealand in Christchurch ( 9th WRF 2017) and Australia in Melbourne ( 10th WRF 2019).

Sarathy actively initiated and coordinated in launching of new IFCR country units in Nepal, Bangladesh and Greece and latest in cricketers’ dream country, West Indies in 2018. During this time India has contributed three IFCR International Chairmen to the world body (Kittu and Ravi) and the Current International Chair Sarathy since 2019.

Last but not the least India contributed enormously in IFCR movement going strong in Rotary International Fellowship groups, in spite of dwindling interest and membership in several affiliated IFCR countries. In recent years apart from India it is Australia which held the IFCR baton strongly under the leadership of both David and Bob and it continues to be the second stronghold of this very popular fellowship with Sri Lanka ( the likely host of next world festival) , Bangladesh and Nepal gathering steam to popularize the group under younger and more involved leadership.

Canada and Uganda are waiting in the wings to be ushered in to IFCR fellowship group, which has been delayed due to the terrible pandemic gripping the world since 2020.