After the fantastic interview with Darshita and Dhruv of Madrid Junior Cricket Club we turn our attention to the Barcelona Junior Cricket scene. Manish Manwani plays for his junior club, Badalona Cricket Club and also plays for a senior team, Raval Sporting Cricket Club. Cricket España´s Junior Director of Cricket Harmit Phull (Rico) caught up with him recently and put the same questions to him that he had to Darshita and Drruv a few days previously.
Rico : Manish, we are pleased to learn that you and your family are safe and well during the lock down, thank you very much for taking part in this on-line interview.
Rico : How old are you?
Manish : I am 16 years old
Rico : At what age did you start playing cricket, and where?
Manish : I started playing cricket in India when I was 8 years old.
Rico : What is your first memory of cricket?
Manish : My first memory is of the first time I stepped onto a ground ready to play my first hard ball match.
Rico : Under normal circumstances, where and when do you practice playing cricket?
Manish : We practice on Saturdays at the montjuic baseball ground, AKO Coca Cola ground.
Rico : Do you see yourself as a batter or bowler?
Manish : I am a Batter and wicket keeper.
Rico : What, when and where do you think was your best performance to date?
Manish : My best performance to date was last year in a senior league match when I scored 84 runs against UCC, this was also my first fifty.
Rico : Why do you like to play cricket?
Manish : It all started when I was in India and watched the 2011 world cup final which India won, from that day on I love cricket.
Rico : What is the best thing about cricket in Spain?
Manish : The best things for me are the tournaments that are arranged and we take part in.
Rico : What if anything is the most disappointing thing about cricket in Spain?
Manish : I think the problem is that of not having a good base, we don’t have good nets and we need a ground which is always available for us to play on.
Rico : What’s your most memorable cricket experience in Spain?
Manish : Memorable experience was when I went for my first tour to Malaga, the Cartama Oval and I won the best batter trophy.
Rico : As a player, where would you like to see yourself in 15 years time?
Manish : This is simple, my goal is to play for the Spanish national team.
Rico : Who is your favourite player and why?
Manish : This has to be Chris Gayle, his the best hitter of the cricket ball that I know, I love his style and how he hits the ball.
Rico : If you could have dinner tonight with any famous person in the world, who would it be and why?
Manish : Will be Yuvraj Singh sir because he his also my fav one 
Rico : What effect has Covid19 had on your young lives, for better and worse?
Manish . For better I think that I can spend time with my parents and worse will be not playing cricket 
Rico : If you had a message to all people your age during these difficult times, what would it be?
Manish : Pls stay home 
for u and for ur family and also for your future
Thank you Manish for your great answers. Keep fit and healthy and see you on a cricket pitch somewhere soon.
Harmit Phull was talking to Manish Manwani..
