Teammates of Rezwanul Parvez, who recently completed the Environmental and Conservation Sciences Ph.D. program through North Dakota State, cheered as he took the field for the Fargo Cricket Club one final time.

Parvez’s induction ceremony started 2017’s Red River Valley Cup, a name given to the two day, three match event against another cricket club from either Minnesota or Canada.

Murali Vegi, member of the club, said Parvez is a very strong cricket player and has been playing with the club since 2012, one year after the club was founded.

Parvez is leaving the club because he completed his PhD and is moving out of town to further pursue his career. Now the club is faced with the challenge of replacing this talented player.

The club is always actively recruiting new members. Their goal is to have enough players to fill four teams. Each team consists of 15 players. “We are trying to reach out to all people through various channels,” Vegi said. “It’s a great sport, you know. We are welcoming of all players from Fargo who enjoy cricket.”

NDSU is one of the club’s largest target audiences in recruitment.

One challenge the club faces in recruiting potential NDSU players is proximity. The club currently plays matches at Riverwood Park on County Road 31, which is about a 15-minute drive from campus.

“If it were closer to NDSU facilities, I think more students would have an opportunity to play,” Vegi said.

Students looking to looking to learn more or watch a cricket match for the first time can visit the club’s next internal matches Sept. 9 and 10. “It is a great opportunity for everyone who enjoys cricket to come and join us.”

Another option for students is NDSU’s very own Cricket Club Organization.

As for the cup, the Fargo Cricket Club lost all three matches to this year’s opponent, Winnipeg. “They were very talented teams and we gave a good fight,” Vegi said.