Our Story – oxford cricket odyssey

Our Story

Oxford Cricket Odyssey is more than just an academic venture; it is a labor of love for our founding team. As alumni who have reveled in the abundance of cricketing opportunities during our college years and beyond, we are uniquely positioned to offer an authentic and enriching experience. Our deep-rooted connection with the city and its cricketing heritage has inspired us to create a platform where international cricketers can experience the charm and excellence of Oxford's cricket scene.

Our Vision

We aim to provide more than just a tour; we offer a holistic cricketing experience. From matches on historic grounds to cultural explorations of Oxford and its famous University, each tour is meticulously curated to ensure that visitors not only play cricket but also immerse themselves in the city's rich history and vibrant culture. Our passion for cricket and our love for Oxford drive us to deliver an unforgettable journey for every team.

Meet Our Team

Oxford Cricket Odyssey was founded by cricket lovers and Oxford University alumni, dedicated to sharing the passion for the sport's heritage in this City of Dreaming Spires.

Ashwani Arora

Co-Founder

Ashwani Arora is the ideal co-founder for Oxford Cricket Odyssey, bringing a wealth of C-suite and boardroom experience to the team, perfectly complementing the leadership team. With a distinguished career that spans both corporate excellence and athletic prowess, Ashwani embodies the fusion of business acumen and a deep passion for cricket.

Ashwani Arora

Co-Founder

Ashwani Arora is the ideal co-founder for Oxford Cricket Odyssey, bringing a wealth of C-suite and boardroom experience to the team, perfectly complementing the leadership team. With a distinguished career that spans both corporate excellence and athletic prowess, Ashwani embodies the fusion of business acumen and a deep passion for cricket.

Ashwani's corporate journey began in the food industry, where he played an instrumental role in transforming the pizza industry in India as the Director of Operations for Domino's Pizza. He was pivotal in the brand's expansion across the country, achieving remarkable milestones such as launching over 86 Domino’s stores in India, with an extraordinary feat of opening 40 stores within just 90 days. His exceptional leadership and operational expertise earned him the prestigious 2000 Pioneer Award, underscoring his significant contributions to Domino's rapid growth. Under his leadership, Domino’s flourished, with Ashwani developing more than 15 area and district managers and successfully launching 27 stores in northern India within a single year. By 2000, his strategic oversight had expanded Domino’s footprint to 15 new stores across eight cities and four states.

After a stellar career at Domino’s, Ashwani transitioned to the logistics sector, where he served as the Director Air Operations and Director Global BPO at DHL Express in India, further enhancing his executive experience and strategic management skills.

Beyond his corporate achievements, Ashwani is a passionate cricketer who continues to excel on the field. He represents India’s over-50 team and remains an active overseas player for ODCUACO Club in Beckenham, Kent, competing in the Kent Cricket League. His deep love for the sport drives him to spend the cricket season in the UK, contributing both his experience and passion on the field.

Ashwani’s unique blend of high-level corporate leadership and unwavering commitment to cricket makes him an invaluable Co-Founder of Oxford Cricket Odyssey. His extensive boardroom experience, combined with his active participation in cricket, positions him perfectly to help lead this innovative venture, bringing together the worlds of sport, education, and executive development.

Bharat Ramanathan

COO & Co-founder

Bharat Ramanathan, visionary co-founder of Oxford Cricket Odyssey, merges his passion for cricket with Oxford’s charm. An Oxford alum, Bharat has shaped into a key figure in its cricketing circles over a decade, offering visitors unmatched experiences.

With a Master of Engineering from Oxford, Bharat’s career spans roles at Qualtrics, BAE Systems, and Deutsche Bank, specializing in relationship management and strategic partnerships. These skills translate into a seamless blend of professional acumen and personal dedication, ensuring that Oxford Cricket Odyssey stands out as a premier choice for cricket enthusiasts and tourists alike.

As president and steward of the Oxford University Club CC, Bharat demonstrated exceptional leadership, steering the club through significant challenges such as the demolition of its home ground and the global pandemic. His ability to foster strong relationships with key stakeholders, including the Head of Communications, Director of Oxford University Sport, and Oxford College Deans, highlights his talent for creating and sustaining top-tier experiences.

Bharat’s management of tours to Sri Lanka and Mexico illustrates his adeptness in catering to diverse customer needs, ensuring meticulously planned, bespoke cricketing experiences. His extensive network within Oxford’s cricketing community grants unique access to top facilities and insights, enhancing the authenticity of the Oxford Cricket Odyssey experience.

Bharat aims to give schools and cricket academies the enriching experiences that shaped his time at Oxford—combining academic rigor, cultural immersion, and cricket in Oxford’s historic venues.

Junaid Aziz

CEO & Co-founder

Junaid is a dynamic brand strategist and design thinking expert, holding an MBA, an M.A. in Creative Management, and a degree in Globalization and Consumer Behavior from the University of Pennsylvania. His career has shaped the brand narratives of iconic brands including Rolex, Vacheron Constantin, Montblanc, and F.P. Journe, establishing him as a leader in building aspirational brands.

Junaid Aziz

CEO & Co-founder

As CEO of Oxford Cricket Odyssey, Junaid leads a team that blends education with sport, offering distinctive experiences. These include an exclusive summer school with cricket tourism for under-19s from elite global schools, and masterclasses for C-suite executives designed to enhance leadership and decision-making through cricket. This innovative approach combines three years of ethnographic research with a rich mix of history, culture, and competition, redefining executive education in Oxford.

Outside of Oxford, Junaid teaches at Stanford, helping the next generation of innovators apply design thinking to real-world challenges. He also advises the United Nations Joint SDG Fund Secretariat, leveraging his extensive experience to influence global strategies and partnerships. With a diverse background in luxury, education, and strategic consulting, Junaid continually strives to transcend traditional boundaries and create exceptional outcomes.

Stephen Wright

Philosopher and Director of Cricket Excellence & Leadership

Dr. Stephen Wright brings a visionary approach to the intersection of sport, education, and personal development. With a focus on the profound life lessons embedded within the game of cricket, Dr. Wright has crafted an exclusive 15-day curriculum that integrates physical training with philosophical insights.

This innovative program is designed for school cricket teams from around the globe, teaching them how the intricacies of cricket mirror life’s broader challenges—from strategic decision-making and leadership to resilience and teamwork.

A firm believer that cricket offers valuable subtextual learnings, Dr. Wright uses the sport as a medium to inspire young athletes, helping them shape not only their college experiences but also future careers. Under his leadership, this holistic training module transforms the cricket pitch into a classroom, where students learn to master the game while honing skills that transcend the boundary lines, creating pathways to success in both academics and life.

Aisha Ahmed

Head of Education

Aisha Ahmad is an avid cricket fan and longtime follower of cricket in Oxford. She completed her PhD in International Development and MPhil in Development Studies (with distinction) at the University of Oxford, winning the Papiya Ghosh thesis prize for her work on law, governance and dispossession in urban Pakistan.

Aisha Ahmed

Head of Education

Aisha Ahmad is an avid cricket fan and longtime follower of cricket in Oxford. She completed her PhD in International Development and MPhil in Development Studies (with distinction) at the University of Oxford, winning the Papiya Ghosh thesis prize for her work on law, governance and dispossession in urban Pakistan.

Before this, she obtained an LLM at Harvard Law School, winning multiple Dean’s Scholar Prizes for her work on global governance and law and international development.

She completed her BA/LLB from LUMS in Lahore, Pakistan as the University’s Gold Medalist in law. Aisha is currently an Assistant Professor at the Shaikh Ahmad Hasan School of Law at LUMS. Her research looks at land and urban governance in Lahore, Pakistan and she is interested in interdisciplinary approaches to law, law and development and the political economy of law. Aisha has previously taught courses at LUMS and the University of Oxford relating to legal theory, the political economy of law, research methodologies and core theories and issues in development studies.

Aisha has had a long and illustrious career in the field of public speaking and debate. Apart from winning many national tournaments and speaker prizes, she has served as the National Debate Coach for two countries—Pakistan (2011, 2012) and Denmark (2013). She has also served as Chief Adjudicator of the World Schools Debating Championships (2017, 2018), the world’s premier international debating tournament. She looks forward to bringing her vast administrative, academic and communications experience to OCO and is excited to introduce the wonders of cricket in Oxford to students from around the world.

Abhishek Batra

Director Business Development

Abhishek has managed a great balance in life between the need and the want. Cricket has always been his passion since a kid (the want) and good education a top priority (the need).

From school to higher studies to a corporate career, Abhishek has always been able to create a blend of his passion and profession.

Topper of commerce and first gold medalist in school / Captain of school cricket team and vice sports captain.

One of the top performers in graduation from DU and captain of the college team/representing the Delhi University team.

MBA from NMIMS Mumbai and captain of NMIMS college cricket team. He has been able to manage best of both the world's and his abilities have been tested and retested at each step.

A corporate career including audit experience in KPMG, running a family business of distribution of Nestle products, corporate banking in experience across ICICI and Kotak and engaging as a market research consultant, he has had a diverse experience across domains.

Cricket has not been lost at any step. From representing school, universities, district Gurgaon at all age group levels, attending state camps to getting into semi corporate and corporate cricket circles, he has had it all.

Tip of the iceberg is the latest feat of winning an all India cricket reality show called Cricket ka Ticket run by Rajasthan Royals (IPL franchise) and Colors in 2023 which gave birth to a new dream of getting back into professional cricket, he has attended IPL training camps and net bowling roles with RR in IPL 2023 and 2024 and playing club / league cricket across UK and Oman and is enroute to start a new chapter in his professional cricketing journey.

David Brook

Strategic Advisor, Marketing and Media

Cricket Commentator, Broadcaster & Analyst

David Brook is a seasoned professional with a unique blend of expertise in academia, media, and sports. As a Lecturer at the University of Westminster, he shares his deep knowledge of marketing and new media with aspiring professionals, shaping the future of communications through his engaging and inspiring teaching style.

David Brook

Strategic Advisor, Marketing and Media

Cricket Commentator, Broadcaster & Analyst

Brook's dual role as a Sports Reporter has honed his skills in online marketing, enabling him to enhance the reach and impact of his sports journalism. He is a champion of the convergence of traditional reporting and digital innovation, crafting engaging narratives that resonate with diverse, global audiences.

In addition to his academic and media pursuits, Brook is also a passionate cricket enthusiast. He has been involved in the Oxford Cricket Odyssey; an innovative venture dedicated to curating unparalleled cricket experiences in the historic city of Oxford that showcases the talent of young cricketers from around the world. Brook's experience with the Oxford Cricket Odyssey has given him a unique perspective on the sport and has allowed him to connect with aspiring cricketers from all walks of life.

Brook's diverse background and expertise make him a valuable asset to any organisation looking to leverage the power of marketing and media to achieve their goals. He is a strategic thinker with a proven track record of success, and he is passionate about helping others succeed.

Watch this space for more…

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