For a group of Indian and Pakistani students on campus, Friday afternoons spell "relaxation," because that's when they get to indulge in a sub-continental passion: cricket.For the nearly 1.5 billion people who inhabit the sub-continental countries of India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, cricket is admittedly more than just a sport — it's a way of life.

For the group of Marquette students from India and Pakistan the verdant lawns in front of the Lalumiere building are transformed into a cricket field where shouts of 'howzzat' and 'catch it' reverberate through the air.

Cricket at Marquette seems to attract non-Marquette students too.

"We all met at the International Center, when I was a student at Marquette," said Khawar Ali, a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. "We had brought all the equipment (bats and balls) from Pakistan. So this provided the perfect opportunity for us to get together and play.

"Playing cricket helps us de-stress and it has helped us settle down quicker in our new environs".

Ranganathan Sowmyanarayanan, a first year graduate student from Marquette said that while he knew cricket was played in the United States, he wasn't sure if he would find anyone playing cricket at Marquette. He's been very happy not only to be able to play cricket, but to be able to play with Pakistanis, something which would not have been possible for him in India. That, he said, "has been totally refreshing."

The group is serious about its game; some are even members of the Milwaukee United Cricket Club, a local cricket club that conducts and participates in tournaments.

In the winter, players and equipment do not go into hibernation. On the contrary, they re-locate to the Rec Center.

This just shows that, no matter what the weather or location, cricket is never a far-fetched option for these players.