When the 2017 season came to a close, some of the Pinatar Pirates CC members could not imagine going through the winter months without any cricket. Although some of the boys meet up and play a little bit of tape ball cricket in Torre Pacheco, some felt that there was a need to organise something that gave players the opportunity to try and develop their skills and techniques.
The Pirates cave was the idea of captain Gopi Singh and club member Happy Singh who got together and toyed with the idea of setting something up in the basement (underbuild) beneath Happy’s barbershop.
After securing the premises with permission from the community, Gopi had negotiations with La Manga CC from whom he purchased one of their old mats, they next approached the Pinatar arena for the use of side netting that was surplus to their requirements.
Next followed a lot of dedicated hard work from club members to clean up the basement, and after that, spend days of hard graft getting the mat down and netting put up. Its still work in progress, an ongoing project with members coming together to purchase items required to improve the set up, for example the purchase and fitting of more high wattage lighting.
The Pirates cave is gradually coming together, and with the CE kindly allowing the club to borrow their bowling machine, members are making full use of this excellent opportunity.
Members are hoping that they can boost funds by organising social events and reach out to people for sponsorships, with the aim to add a second net and also include a area for some fielding practice in mind.
Harmit Phull
