Philadelphia International Cricket Festival is the greatest sporting occasion in the cradle of cricket that is Philadelphia. It is hosted by five of Philadelphia’s preeminent cricket clubs: the British Officers' Cricket Club, Germantown Cricket Club, Haverford College Cricket Club, Merion Cricket Club and Philadelphia Cricket Club.
The 25th Anniversary edition of the Philadelphia International Cricket Festival will feature over 200 players and Devon Malcolm will be this year's celebrity guest, PICF announced today. Cricketers from 14 different nationalities are expected to partake in this premiere Philadelphia spring event.
Malcolm, the Jamaican-born England Test cricketer, famously took 9 for 57 in August 1994 at The oval against South Africa after getting hit by a bouncer when batting. He let the slip fielders know in no uncertain terms that he had had enough. "You guys are history," he told them and what followed was indeed history. His 9-wicket haul was the best bowling analysis in Test cricket by an English fast bowler in the last century as also one of the best bowling ever witnessed in Test cricket.
The PICF has promoted cricket, friendship and community service through sporting contact for 25 years now. Members of the public are invited to join in the festivities on Sunday, May 7th starting around 1 pm for the Final at the historic Philadelphia Cricket Club in the presence of Devon Malcolm. Previous celebrity guests to the Philadelphia International Cricket Festival have included Dennis Lillie, Michael Kasprowicz, Shaun Pollock, Jonty Rhodes, Deryck Murray and Fred Trueman. This great sporting occasion is hosted by five of Philadelphia’s preeminent cricket clubs: the British Officers' Cricket Club, Germantown Cricket Club, Haverford College Cricket Club, Merion Cricket Club and Philadelphia Cricket Club.
Guest teams this year include: CANAM (Women’s Team featuring Charlotte Edwards – Wisden Cricketer of the Year 2014), Melbourne (AUS), Royal Automobile Club (UK), Toronto (Canada), Western Province (RSA), Australian Embassy (DC), Amwell Valley (NJ), ANZACs (NC), Colorado, Mad Dogs (NY), Sarasota (FL). Staten Island (NY), and West Haven (CT).
Organizing committee Chair, Tom Culp remarked,“In 2017, fans will enjoy an afternoon of top class skills and competition while non-cricketing sports enthusiasts can learn about the art of the gameâ€.
For more information about the 2017 Philadelphia International Cricket Festival, please visit
www.cricketfestival.com.
