Bowed heads, sunken spirits, tired bodies and a lost game; Green team had just lost the finals of the Royal Cup tournament. Walking towards their cars in the parking lot, the players were grim on their departure. They probably lost because of their unauthentic built. Reminded me of Inzamam-ul-Haque back in the days when anyone could safely say that Mr. Haque would run out.

Faisal Malik, owner of the Popeye’s Chicken and Seafood food chain, was among these solemn players. He loved cricket, his passion, his craze, and yet he had to wait for another tournament to join another team to step into the field. That night in 2006, his passion drove him to form PCB-Popeye’s Cricket Club to gather cricket lovers to practice cricket every week to participate in Canada’s biggest league-Toronto and District Cricket league.

His loyal friends followed his lead and got released from their contracts in their respective clubs to join this new endeavor. Faisal recalls that moment, “My friends are great players, and they were playing at the Premium level but agreed to join me to play for 1^st division, a lower level in Toronto and District Cricket League.”

Their decision turned out well in their favor, PCB made it to the Elite level-a higher level than premium- within a year after winning the finals in the 1^st division tournament.

PCB has gathered 40 members divided in two teams-one playing in the 1^st division while other playing at the Elite level.

Faisal says that this expensive hobby is costing him about $15,000 annually as he is the sole sponsor. He proudly mentions that no one in the team is charged any thing nor is anyone paid anything, “We play because we love cricket.”

Faisal being the president of the club, mentions that the players are between the ages of 16-36 and they welcome players from all ethnicities. Initially, he mentions that all his friends joined in who were from a Pakistani decent but now players from Indian as were as Sri Lankan decent have joined the team as well.

Faisal also mentions that hey have to accommodate their practices in the evenings or weekends because of the full-time jobs of the players. He is proud of the talent he has gathered at PCB, three of the guys he says have played for Canada, “Our Guru, Rizwan Cheema plays for our Elite team and is under contract with CCA. While Shakir Mohammad and Saad Bin Zafar have also played for Canada.”

Giving his insight into Canadian Cricket, Faisal says that the Canadian team has made it to the World Cup, so I would say that the future is bright. He adds, “Right now we have to struggle on club basis. If the clubs can get funding especially the elite division, then the guys can play for the country. Also, there are lots of junior players coming up so they would need more support.”

Faisal expresses his dissatisfaction with the Canadian Cricket team and it’s selection, “I would say Canadian team still needs some changes, there is a world cup in 2011, they have enough time to choose the best. They should look at the stats and see which player is doing what.”

Practicing every weekend from May to September during the cricket season and using indoor facilities during winter, Faisal hopes to turn this club into a cricket academy. He talks about his children saying, “Right now my own children find basketball or baseball more interesting. I think this is because of lack of [cricket] academies for children. I am hoping to turn PCB into an academy to attract children to cricket.”