Kochi: St. Peter's Club, the official cricket team of the Vatican, has become a fully Malayali team. Five Malayalis were the first to get a place in this international team. Now the entire team, consisting of priests and students who seek priesthood, are Malayalis.

The team's first international match will be played in England on Friday. They will compete with various teams here till July 5.

The Vatican team is participating in the 10th edition of the competition series called 'Journey to the Light of Faith'. The match will be played against teams like The King's XI-England and St Mary's University at Windsor Castle, Westminster Abbey and Arundel Castle.

Before the match, the team members went to St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City and received blessings from Pope Francis. The Vatican Cricket Club was formed in 2023 with the aim of strengthening ties with countries and maintaining brotherhood through cricket.

There are nine priests and three clerical students in the team. Father Jose Eetulli, a native of Changanassery, is the captain. Fr Nelson Puthuparampil (Kannur), Fr Jose Richus (Thiruvananthapuram), Fr Prince Augustine (Kottayam), Fr Abin Mathew (Pala), Fr Joji Kavunkal (Chalakudy), Fr Santo Thomas (Kannur), Fr Paulson Kochuthara (Kochi), Fr Ebin Illikal (Thrissur), Brother Ebin Jose (Idukki), Brother Jays Jamie (Kothamangalam) and Brother Ajay Poovanpuzha (Kannur). Australian Dane Kirby is the coach.