Find something you love and you’ll never work a day in your life. Dr. Ali Bacher found something he could fully put his heart behind- the wonderful game of cricket! For twenty-two years he worked in cricket administration and enjoyed up and going to work every day.
Sports run through his blood. And has from a young age. A strong family background etched on the sports pitch playing soccer and tennis, he found his true calling in cricket. He honed his skills at King Edward and later become the youngest ever captain of the provincial team at twenty-one. South Africa’s exclusion from international cricket forced him to retire from the game. To keep his love for the game alive, he played for the local team.
Despite a short-lived career on the pitch, cricket remained his first love. After leaving the game for a few years to pursue a successful career as a medical doctor, he returned to the beautiful game. This time, he took a position as a cricket administrator. During his years in this position, he established the ‘Bakers Mini Cricket’ tournaments, introducing the game to young children across the country. He was also a part of the team that fought for SA to be allowed back into the international cricketing community after being exiled for many years. His life’s work has always been about the game, and despite the challenges and opposition that he faced, his dedication to and love for the game, made him a respected man both on the pitch and in the boardroom.
His greatest achievement is his work in the unification of South African cricket. In the words of the man himself, “you don’t want to die one day not having given your best, or done your best for people you’re close to.”
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