Three weeks after winning the Big Bash League (BBL) championship with the Hobart Hurricanes, Peter Hatzoglou is still overjoyed about it.
“Great to win and great to win a BBL title for Tasmania, their first one,” he told Neos Kosmos.
“My third Big Bash title in in five seasons, which is pretty cool. Probably an achievement that not too many have done, so I’m proud of that.
“But I have been lucky to play in a number of really good teams with there being plenty of good players I’m just piggybacking off.”
This was the bowler’s third premiership win as a squad member but second as part of a playing XI.
He also gave a shout out to Patrick Dooley, who is another Greek in the team.
Hatzoglou is Greek on his dad’s side, his dad being Nick Hatzoglou, a sports administrator who has worked at Cricket Australia, AFL and Football Australia.
His grandparents are both from a village near Kozani, his grandfather from a town called Servia, and grandmother from Vathylakkos.
The 26-year-old is very proud of his heritage and said he would jump at the chance to represent Greece.
Neos Kosmos previously reported that cricket will be reintroduced at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, United States, the first time since 1900, expected in Twenty20 format.
The Hellenic Cricket Federation is also said to be keen to top up their team with Australian born players of Greek heritage.
“I’m definitely trying to do all that, that would be an amazing opportunity to represent Greece at the Olympics,” he said.
He added it would be huge for the sport to be at the Olympics again, to bring more eyes from other countries where it is not popular.
Hatzoglou is currently in Spain for the Weston Shield tournament, playing for the World XI team.
He said it’s been really exciting playing in a place where cricket isn’t traditionally a favourite sport.
The Melburnian also hopes he can catch the eye of the European XI coach, as he is also coach of the Greek team as well.
Playing in tournaments like this also go a long way in one’s prospects of playing for their national team. While he would love to play for Greece, playing for Australia is also the dream of course.
“I enjoy playing in as many different competitions as I can, in as many different places as I can, and if I do well then yeah, hopefully that that goes some way to help me play for Australia,” he said.
“I’m really enjoying the journey and who knows what can happen. In sport the unexpected is normal in many ways and I’d love to be another player of Greek heritage playing for the Australian side.”
