‘Sporting mensches’ is a series in which host Laragh Widdess interviews people who’ve made an outstanding contribution to sport in Israel – whether on the field, the pitch, the court, or behind the scenes.

Stanley Perlman, originally from South Africa, has been the driving force behind Israel cricket for over 30 years. Among his roles have been captain of the Israeli cricket team from 1985-1994, and Chairman of the Israel Cricket Association from 1994-2013 (he’s still President).

He visits the TLV1 studio to tell the story behind cricket in Israel; from the arrival of General Allenby’s British soldiers, to the influx of Indian Jews, to potentially the first ever Bedouin to play for Israel – it’s a tale of bringing together diverse peoples under the umbrella of sport.

On a personal level, Perlman discusses his admiration for South African cricketer Basil D’Oliveira, playing on dodgy pitches alongside grazing sheep when he first arrived in Israel, his late friend and Israeli cricket stalwart Hillel Oscar, and his star turn in Israel’s successful cricket film Turn Left at the End of the World.

Song credit: Riff Cohen – A Paris

This is a segment from It Takes All Sports: Listen to the full show.