Two players with family roots in Pakistan and New Zealand will find themselves on the same cricket field as India when Japan take on the reigning T20 world champions in a historic one-off match on Tuesday.
Ibrahim Takahashi and Reo Sakurano-Thomas have been named in Japan’s squad for the fixture at the Sano Cricket Ground. Both players were born into Japanese families but grew up with strong connections to cricketing cultures outside Japan.
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For Ibrahim, the journey began with his parents. His father, Umar, is from Pakistan, while his mother, Tomoko, was born in Japan. Ibrahim was born in Gotemba, a city in Shizuoka Prefecture near Mount Fuji, and spent his first eight years there before moving to Pakistan with his family.
It was in Pakistan that cricket became a major part of his life.
“All of my cousins played cricket, so I started playing with them,” Ibrahim told The Indian Express. One of his earliest cricket memories is watching the 2007 T20 World Cup final between India and Pakistan.
Ibrahim later played for a local team called Junoon and developed a passion for the sport. However, cricket eventually took a back seat as he pursued studies in IT and visual communication.
His return to the game came after his family moved back to Japan in 2018. During the COVID-19 lockdown, Ibrahim searched for cricket opportunities in Japan and connected with the Chiba Sharks. He subsequently earned a place in Japan’s cricket setup and began working towards representing the national team.
His journey eventually took him to Australia, where he moved to play club cricket and improve his skills. He also met his wife, Zunerah, whose family has roots in Pakistan.
Reo’s path to Japan’s national team was different but equally shaped by his family. His father, Garth Thomas, moved from New Zealand’s Waikato region to Toyama to teach English. There he met Yuko Sakurano, who would later become his wife.
Reo moved to Waikato at the age of five and grew up playing cricket. He represented Northern Districts at Under-19 level and was surrounded by the legacy of New Zealand stars such as Kane Williamson, Mitchell Santner and Trent Boult.
A fan of former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum, Reo returned to Japan in 2022 after completing his graduation in New Zealand. He joined the Japan Cricket Association and also pursued his ambition of playing for the national team. He now coaches Japan’s Under-16 and Under-19 teams.
The upcoming match against India carries special significance for both players.
Ibrahim said his father is thrilled at the prospect of seeing his son play against the world champions. He also named Jasprit Bumrah as his favourite bowler and Abhishek Sharma as a player from whom he draws inspiration.
Reo, meanwhile, said he never imagined he would get the opportunity to play against the world champions. His father, who commentates on Japan’s matches, may not be on commentary duty for this particular game, but Reo knows the occasion will be a proud moment for his family.
