There was a time when cricket was known to be a game that stood for principles of honesty and fair play. A crooked deed used to be described by Englishmen as “not quite cricket”. The perpetrator of the mischief was immediately penalized and ostracized for being a villain. Over the years, the ‘gentleman’s game’ may have lost some of that sheen in most of the cricket playing nations as ‘professionalism’ set in. Its heroes are no longer seen as valorous knights in shining armour.
But surprisingly a non-cricket playing country has revived its noble values. Some prisons in Mexico are using the game and its traditions as a therapy to bring about improved behaviour among the inmates. Apparently, the move has shown some results, and the prisons have reported quite some gains that were witnessed after introducing this unique reform method. According to the Mexico Cricket Association, cricket has brought about an improvement in the attitude of the prisoners and their lives.
According to an article on the website of the International Cricket Council, since the introduction of the “Cricket In Prisons Project” in partnership with the National Commission for Physical Culture and Sport (CONADE), the outcome has far exceeded its original expectations.
The programme has been specifically tailored to suit the prisoners’ schedule within the prison walls and is a preparatory step towards their eventual release back into free society after their term of imprisonment has ended. Every morning, the prisoners gather in a field that is about 60 square metres and play cricket with all the energy and gusto of school children.
Cricket is different from all of them, says the man behind the project
The brain behind the project is a man named Eduardo Acevedo. He is the chief of CONADE and he feels that this is just the beginning. The project will see further success in future and many prisons will follow similar methods.
“The advantage of cricket is that it is a harmonious team sport. Cricket teaches prisoners how to relate to each other, be respectful and disciplined as well as allow them to get some form of physical exercise. The decisions of the umpire are always respected and accepted by the players. Many sports are only about aggression, rivalry and violence. But cricket is different from all of them,” said Acevedo.
“We know life in prison is very hard. It’s lonely and prisoners can be inside for a long time, so anything that makes their lives a little bit happier or a little bit easier, such as cricket, is absolutely worth doing,” he said.
“At present we have cricket as a therapy in four prisons in Mexico City. It is supporting their reintegration into society. We also have plans to start carpentry classes for the prisoners. They can learn to manufacture cricket bats and stumps. Their skills will be useful to them when they are released from prison. I would love to see cricket become a central sport in the federal penitentiary system of all the 32 states of Mexico,” said Acevedo.
The focus is also on getting more women to play the sport so that they will not only reintegrate into society but also take the game to their communities and thereby contribute to the growth of the sport in the country.
“We are seeing more women start playing, which is encouraging their children to do the same. Being trained in a new and little-known sport can allow these women to teach their communities once they are released which will not only give them a source of income but contribute to the growth of the sport too,” he added.
Cricket therapy can be tried in India
If the plans of the Mexican authorities bear fruit, then the game will be not just a game but a means to bring about an important social change. In India cricket is the most followed and most loved sport. So perhaps Indian authorities would do well to study what is happening in Mexico and launch a similar project for bringing about reforms within prison walls in India.
According to reports, the Tihar Jail in New Delhi has facilities for the inmates to play badminton, chess and kabaddi but cricket is not on the list. Perhaps it is time for prison authorities to introduce cricket not only in Tihar but also in other jails in India. Cricket is the most loved sport in India and its traditions and values may have a good effect on the mindset and demeanor of the inmates.
