Cyprus Cricket History
Unlike other Commonwealth countries, Cyprus did not take up the game during the years of colonial rule. It was brought to the island by the British military stationed in Cyprus after the Second World War and confined to the British Bases.
In the 1980s, the expat community started to flourish and a team formed by them, ‘Cyprus Moufflons’ came into being and played in the then thriving inter-unit cricket.
Cyprus became an International Cricket Council (ICC) member in 1999. In early 2000s, the community had expanded and Asian workers arrived on the island, bringing with them their love for cricket.
About the same time, a number of Cypriots started to return to the island, after the troubles of 1974. They had been brought up in places like Australia and South Africa where they had learnt the game.
It was not until August 2006 that Cyprus made it’s international debut, finishing as runners up in Division Four of the European Men’s Championship. The women team made it’s debut in 2024 at Happy Valley ground in Cyprus.
