The Philadelphia International Cricket Festival (PICF) is celebrating its 27th Anniversary this year. The festival will feature over 200 players and two international teams. This great sporting occasion is hosted by five of Philadelphia’s preeminent cricket grounds: The British Officers’ Cricket Club, Germantown Cricket Club, Merion Cricket Club, Haverford College, and Philadelphia Cricket Club.
Nineteen teams are expected to play in this year’s tournament. Guest teams this year include: Royal Automobile Club (UK), Toronto Cricket (CAN), Amwell Valley Cricket (NJ), West Haven Cricket Club (CT), Mad Dogs Cricket Club (NY), Sarasota Cricket (FL), Wandering ANZACs Cricket (NC), Cavaliers Cricket (MA), Pittsburgh Cricket (PA), Columbia Cricket Club (NY), Galacticos Cricket (NY), Buckeye Cricket (OH), Honolulu Cricket Club (HI), and Colorado Cricket (CO).
Since its inception, PICF has promoted cricket, friendship and community service through the sport. Income raised through the festival through the generosity of event sponsors and participant fees, has made charitable support of local youth development programs possible.
A celebrity guest, Ali Bacher – former South African test cricketer, will attend the 2019 event. Previous celebrity guests to the Philadelphia International Cricket Festival have included Sir Garfield Sobers, Gary Kirsten, Dennis Lillie, Shaun Pollock, Jonty Rhodes, Alvin Kallicharran, Sir Richard Hadlee, and Fred Trueman.
Members of the public are invited to join in the festivities on Sunday, May 5th at 1:30 pm for the event finals at the Philadelphia Cricket Club at 415 Willow Grove Avenue in Chestnut Hill. Organizing committee Chair, Tom Culp remarked that “We look forward to welcoming cricket fans to Philadelphia to enjoy an afternoon of top-notch cricket and friendly competition.”
For more information about the 2019 Philadelphia International Cricket Festival, please visit http://www.cricketfestival.com
