Myanmar Cricket Federation

Myanmar embodies the truest spirit of amateur cricket in the Asian Cricket Council and, arguably, the world. The Myanmar Cricket Federation (MCF) is a benevolent parental body that offers holistic encouragement to all who wish to play. That cricket is even played in Myanmar is a cause of celebration.

The MCF has realised that creating the proper conditions for cricket will inevitably lead to creating a proper national team in the years to come, one that truly represents not just the spirit of Myanmar but the spirit of cricket.

Since it became an ACC Member in 2005 and the 97th Member of the global ICC family in 2006, cricket has been taken to primary and secondary schools in Yangon. The construction of nets and then a ground for school cricket led to the first inter-school tournament in January 2007 with six teams taking part. "Not very exciting as yet, but we shall improve," says MCF President U Nyunt Win.

On becoming ACC Members in 2005, the MCF released a song for public consumption, which did much to establish cricket in the public consciousness. The words of the chorus are "Cricket - Cricket - Cricket -Cricket / Play cricket - Achieve Subtle Supremacy". In 2008, Nyunt Win (a legendary actor) directed a Myanmarese movie Bo Ba, which told a story very similar to Lagaan and was a huge hit across the country. Many of the national players are featured in the story as extras.

The senior team competed in its first major tournament when Myanmar entered the 2006 ACC Trophy - losing four out of four. In 2009, it entered the ACC Trophy Challenge, but again lost all of its matches. However, it has players who can put bat to ball and the team, showing plenty of heart, won its first-ever international match in the 2007 ACC Under-15 Challenge Cup, when it defeated Brunei. Since then, Myanmar has shown improvement and, at times, displays of breath-taking skill. String enough of those moments together and it will be a dangerous side.