Indian nurses who migrated to Malta for a medical career switch to cricket, win their maiden match for the country against Romania : The Tribune India
Tribune Web Desk
Chandigarh, 25 September
A group of Indian nurses, who immigrated to Malta anticipating a career in the medical profession, found fame in the central Mediterranean country for something that has nothing to do with their nursing career of many years.
The migrant medical professionals became part of Malta’s women’s T20I team and won their debut match against Romania last month.
The team has more than 20 players, the majority of whom are nurses from India. Ironically none of them have any experience in cricket. A few players in the team are from other countries including Nepal, Bangladesh, the Philippines, South Africa and the United Kingdom. No player in the team is from Malta.
The team won the Continental Cupby 3-0 on August 28th.
Captain Shamla Cholassery, a medical nurse from Kerala, led the team to an unprecedented triumph, which paved the way for the future of the game in Malta.
Shamla arrived in Malta in 2019 as a care assistant. Later she passed her written exam and started working there as a nurse.
She, along with a few other women from India, responded to an advertisement that suggested the Malta Cricket Association was setting up its first women’s cricket team and was looking for players.
The team’s coach, Lee Tuck, told The National he was overwhelmed by the response he got when he wanted to set up a women’s cricket team. He also said that it only took six months for the team to master the game.
Tuck said that the players have now become celebrities in Malta after winning their maiden game and more people have started to develop an interest in the game.