Early this morning, our visitors from Panama returned home after spending a week end playing two games of cricket with the Bogota contingent. As you know, this trip was organized with Ismael Patel, the leader of cricket in Panama a few months back.

It was a great experience for our cricketers, as it was the first time we have received a touring side in over ten years. Ismael brought a young team of very well disciplined players, who were an example on and off the field.

On the field, the big difference was the bowling, the steadiness and accuracy of the Panamanians was too much for the locals, on a field where runs were hard to score because of the thick grass, Panama on the first day, scored 128 runs in the 40 overs; Bogota responded with a poor 48 run total.

The Sunday match was a repeat, Panama batted first again and scored a more respectable 182 in 40 overs, while Colombia were all out for 54 in 38 overs.

Though the result was not really a surprise, the benefits gained from this visit off the field were of greater importance; not only did cricket in Colombia receive a shot in the arm, as it were, but a true friendship was formed between the two delegations; there was genuine congeniality and a common sense of objectives expressed by both parties.

Panama, though more advanced in the International scene is very anxious to become more active every year in this plaza. At the same time Colombia, seeing what Panama has done wishes to get involved and follow Panama´s example.

The first step for Colombia is to fulfill the requirements and join the ICC as soon as possible, continue to invite teams from abroad, encourage kids to pick up the game by introducing the game in the private schools and finally, encouraging Colombians in general to become acquainted with the game.

Keeping you informed and advised that we are still kicking and trying to keep the game alive in a non cricketing country.

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