A cricket tour unlike most others saw Old Imperials Cricket Club (OICC) travel more than 4,000 miles to Mongolia.
The thriving alumni club – formed by recent Imperial College London graduates – secured a memorable victory over the national team, introduced approximately 300 children to the sport and discovered one of cricket’s most extraordinary settings.
The touring party travelled to Mongolia in September for the club’s first international tour outside Europe.
Organised in close collaboration with Battulga Gombo, President of the Mongolian Cricket Association (MCA), the trip aimed to demonstrate that some amazing opportunities can be found beyond the traditional international powerhouses.
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Memorable victory
All three fixtures took place at the Mongolia Friendship Cricket Ground on the edge of Ulaanbaatar, offering a spectacular 360-degree backdrop – arguably one of the best in world cricket.
The tour began with a narrow defeat in a T20 against a local representative side Steppe XI. OICC batted first, with the highlight being Dhiran Bains’ explosive 53 helping the team to 136/8. Steppe XI reached the target with four balls remaining.
The club then faced the Mongolian National Team in a T20 and a 40-over contest, marking the first time OICC had played against a national side.
The T20 saw Mongolia produce a commanding batting display to post 155/4, with Gandemberel Ganbold hitting an exceptional 67. OICC’s efforts in reply saw them fall short by 21 runs.
The final 40-over encounter provided a thrilling conclusion to the tour.
Mongolia posted 208 all out, with Ganbold (58) and captain Luvsanzundui Erdenebulgan (54) leading the hosts’ batting effort.
Charles Deane dismantled the top order, claiming all four opening wickets on his way to figures of 4-14, before Sampad Sengupta cleaned up the tail with 3-52.
In reply, OICC captain Abhishek Menon struck 55 before Dilan Sheth anchored the chase with a superb unbeaten 78, guiding the visitors to 209/7 with eight balls remaining and securing a memorable three-wicket victory over the national side.
Menon, OICC 1st XI Captain, said: “The experience of playing against Mongolia and winning was completely unforgettable.
“Given that I got married three days before, I probably shouldn’t say it was the best day of my life, but it was certainly close.”
Unique cultural and sporting experience
Yet the tour’s significance extended well beyond the games themselves.
Across Ulaanbaatar and Kharkhorin, OICC players delivered cricket coaching sessions to approximately 300 children, introducing the sport to a new generation and helping the MCA to expand grassroots participation.
Alongside this, OICC donated cricket equipment to help the children continue playing.
According to the MCA, the OICC visit was the first tour of its kind to Mongolia, marking an important milestone for cricket in the country.
Gombo said: “Cricket is more than just sport, it brings people together, builds friendships and creates opportunities to learn from one another.
“It was a pleasure to welcome Old Imperials CC to Mongolia.
“The team not only shared their passion for cricket by conducting clinics at local schools in a remote suburb of Ulaanbaatar and in Kharkhorin, the ancient capital of the Mongol Empire, but also had the opportunity to explore Mongolia’s beautiful countryside, wilderness and iconic landmarks.
“We hope they enjoyed this unique cultural and sporting experience, building lasting friendships through cricket.”
The visit also helped strengthen sporting and diplomatic relationships between the two countries.
The British Ambassador to Mongolia attended part of the cricketing action before hosting representatives of OICC and the MCA at his residence, providing an opportunity to celebrate the tour and further develop cricketing ties between the two nations.
Edwin Samuel, The British Ambassador to Mongolia remarked: “I never thought I would be hosting a cricket team in Mongolia in my first month and to host a group of alumni from Imperial was a bonus!
“The tour was a great example of how sports can build unique connections between countries, and hopefully it will encourage more British clubs to come to Mongolia for similar tours.”
Global cricketing community
Away from cricket, the touring party experienced Mongolia’s remarkable landscapes, history and culture through a programme of excursions and cultural activities.
These experiences offered players an opportunity to discover a country rarely associated with cricket, reinforcing the tour’s ambition to explore the game beyond its traditional destinations.
The tour was conceived and principally organised by OICC Events & Tour Secretary Charles Deane, who worked closely with Gombo over several months to bring the ambitious project to fruition.
Deane said: “Seeing the tour come together after months of planning was immensely rewarding.
“From competing against the national team to introducing hundreds of children to cricket, the experience exceeded all expectations.
“The hospitality we received was extraordinary, and the friendships and relationships formed throughout the tour made all the work behind the scenes worthwhile.”
Achal Srivastav, OICC President, added: “The MCA were impeccable hosts from start to finish… there is a genuine passion for seeing cricket thrive in every corner of the Steppe.
“I hope more clubs will consider Mongolia as their next touring destination, and equally, that we can extend the same warmth and hospitality to our Mongolian friends.”
Above all, the tour highlighted the extraordinary breadth of the global cricketing community.
From competitive fixtures against an emerging national side to grassroots coaching and the unforgettable setting of the Mongolia Friendship Cricket Ground, OICC’s experience demonstrated that cricketing adventures need not be confined to the sport’s established destinations.
For Old Imperials, the hope is that their journey will inspire other clubs to look further afield, discover new cricketing communities and forge friendships through a shared love of the game.
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