Cinquantenaire Park: Brussels’ Cricket Hub for Indians
Every Saturday morning, as joggers circle the athletics track at Brussels’ iconic Cinquantenaire Park, a very different kind of sport unfolds on the central grass. Twenty to thirty men of Indian origin gather with bats, balls, and boundless enthusiasm to play cricket — a sport that, in their home country, is nothing short of a religion. For the Indian diaspora in Belgium, this weekly ritual is far more than a game; it is a cultural lifeline.
A Saturday Morning Tradition
The group, composed primarily of Indian IT professionals working for major Belgian and international companies, has been meeting at the park for nearly a decade. According to RTBF, which first reported the story, the pioneers of the Cinquantenaire cricket gatherings first appeared around 2016. Since then, the tradition has grown steadily, with 20 to 30 players now showing up each week when weather permits.
Yuvraj, one of the coordinators of the Saturday sessions, has been playing at the park for two years. “In India, cricket is more than a sport, it’s a true religion,” he told RTBF. “On television, you can have up to 150 million or even 200 million viewers watching a match.” That represents roughly one-fifth of India’s population.
Adapting to Shared Spaces
One of the most striking aspects of the Cinquantenaire cricket gatherings is how the players have adapted their game to coexist peacefully with other park users. Initially, the group used regulation cricket balls — heavier and harder than their tennis-ball counterparts. But concerns about safety for joggers and fitness enthusiasts led to a practical change.
“At the beginning, we used a real cricket ball, a bit heavier, a bit harder,” Yuvraj explained. “Then, to avoid accidents with other sportspeople here at Cinquantenaire, we decided to use a tennis ball. It’s less dangerous.”
This spirit of adaptation reflects a broader theme: the Indian community’s desire to integrate into Brussels’ multicultural fabric while preserving their cultural traditions.
More Than Just a Game
For players like Raghav, a 40-year-old IT worker, the Saturday sessions are about sharing a sport that remains relatively unknown in Belgium. He patiently explains the rules to curious onlookers: teams of eleven, a bowler who must eliminate the batsman by hitting the wicket, and a batsman who scores runs by sending the ball as far as possible.
“It’s nice when people come to us and ask questions,” Yuvraj added. “Sometimes we also let them try. They take the bat and try a shot.”
The curiosity is mutual. Coline, a local jogger, told RTBF: “It’s a sport we don’t know. So why not. Sport brings people together even if I know nothing about cricket. In any case, this sport is part of their culture and it’s nice that they’re promoting it here.”
Adrien, another jogger familiar with cricket from time spent in London, described the scene as “another element in this cosmopolitan and multicultural Brussels.”
Cricket’s Growing Footprint in Belgium
While the Cinquantenaire gatherings are informal, cricket has deeper roots in Belgium than many realize. According to Wikipedia, the first recorded cricket match in Belgium was played by British soldiers before the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. The first organized club — Brussels Cricket Club — was established in 1866.
Today, Belgium is an ICC Associate member with a national team ranked 45th in T20I standings. Yuvraj himself plays in an official league near Antwerp with 50 participating teams, using regulation balls. “Here at Cinquantenaire, it’s more for fun,” he said.
The sport received a significant boost in April 2024 when Brussels opened its first indoor cricket facility at Sint-Niklaas Institute in Anderlecht, backed by a €120,000 investment from the Flemish Community Commission. As The Bulletin reported, the facility aims to attract young people to the sport, especially with cricket set to return to the Olympics in 2028.
A Sport Reborn on the World Stage
Cricket’s inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics — its first Olympic appearance in 128 years — has injected fresh momentum into the sport globally. For Belgium, this presents an opportunity to develop homegrown talent. Raghav envisions cricket academies opening across the country: “If children become passionate about cricket very early, cricket will necessarily develop.”
What’s Next
The Cinquantenaire cricket gatherings represent a beautiful intersection of sport, culture, and integration. As Brussels continues to evolve as a truly global city, these Saturday morning matches serve as a reminder that sport can bridge even the widest cultural gaps. With new facilities, Olympic momentum, and a passionate community of players, cricket in Belgium may be on the cusp of something much bigger.
For now, though, the players at Cinquantenaire Park will keep doing what they do best: showing up every Saturday with smiles, tennis balls, and an unshakeable love for the game.