Beyond the Test World

It may be three long years years away, but the road to the 2011 World Cup begins this week in the unlikely setting of Jersey. More famed for its cattle and potatoes than a venue for cricket tournaments, Jersey plays host to 12 of the world's lesser-known teams in Division 5 of the World Cricket League (WCL), as they battle to climb the ladder to the fourth division and dream of a World Cup place in Asia.

Canada’s first Twenty20 version of the national championships has been deemed a success despite unseasonably cold and wet conditions. Cricket Canada said they were “certain” to repeat the format in the future, after the final was even covered on Rogers, a local television channel.

Ontario B defeated Quebec by 16 runs in a final reduced to 15 overs by rain.

Eight teams played out a total of 12 matches in two days with British Columbia, Quebec, Ontario A and Ontario B reaching the last four. The semis were five overs, also because of the rain.

Scotland's leading batsmen haven't exactly covered themselves in glory this season, but at least Navdeep Poonia - who lines up against Yorkshire at Edinburgh on Sunday - can consider himself in prime nick. The 22 year-old opener - who is blessed with a serene temperament, a rich array of attacking strokes and a potent combination of patience and pugnacity - has already enjoyed himself on Warwickshire's behalf this week, hitting 111 and 50 (retired) against Cambridge UCCE and he is optimistic he can continue that sequence in the Friends Provident Trophy.

Cricinfo has learned that the Afro-Asia Cup, which was reported to have been quietly sidelined after the 2007 event in Bangalore, has been revived.

Plans had been discussed whereby the existing Asia Cup, which takes place in Pakistan next month, would be supplemented with an African Cup. The winners of the two tournaments would then play off in an Afro-Asia final.

However, the packed international schedule meant that it was too difficult to find room for the African competition in 2008 and so a competition using the old three-ODI format will be held in Kenya during 2009.

Although the event has raised valuable funds for the African Cricket Association and the Asian Cricket Council, it has been less than a hit with audiences and has struggled to find a niche in the calendar. Despite the best intentions of the two associations, the weight of cricket means that it is still by no means certain to proceed.

The USACA has set a target of September 2008 for the hiring of a chief executive to oversee the running of the association.

The news comes in the light of new rules being considered by the ICC which will entitle the leading Associates to a considerable increase in funding that could run into more than a million dollars a year. While the USA is, because of its clash with the ICC, not ranked highly at the moment, many believe that could change with its recent reinstatement.

However, one of the conditions that has to be met to make a country eligible for the various grants is that it has to have a CEO. It's a chicken and egg situation, as most cannot afford a CEO without the additional income but cannot get the cash without a CEO.

In 2005-06, they were a few men far from home, playing cricket with a tennis ball, often on a basketball court.

The Beijing Cricket Club (BCC) is where Indian and Pakistani expats have found common ground as it quickly grew into four teams that play Shanghai and Hong Kong tournaments.

Every weekend, members hop on to a bus that picks up expats for cricket at the Dulwich College’s new ground. Trophies are stored at Beijing’s oldest sports pub Frank’s Place, the club’s unofficial base.

Less than 48 hours after Cricinfo revealed that Kenya were having problems arranging ODIs against South Africa, the South African board has offered two dates later this year.

Although the exact details have yet to be agreed, the matches will take place on October 30 and November 2.

"We look at South Africa to support us," Samir Inamdar, Cricket Kenya's chairman, said yesterday. "They made the commitment at the ICC board meeting two years ago but it seems that commitment is not there now and that worries us."

Cricket Kenya will look to add other matches against provincial sides to the tour as part of their preparations for the ICC World Cup Qualifiers in 2009.

Kenya’s proposed tour to Denmark has been cancelled after the Danes advised that their players would not be able to get enough time off to fulfill the scheduled matches. The news is a blow to both sides as they start their preparations for the ICC World Cup Qualifiers next April.

Kenya will now have to start their European tour in England where they hope to arrange some matches against quality opposition. They will be based at Cranleigh School where David Waters, the former head of selection, now works.

However, Kenya were rebuffed in attempts to get a match against the MCC which claimed that it would not be able to get a strong-enough side out to take them on.

Romesh Kaluwitharana, who was in the Sri Lankan side which won the 1996 World Cup, has been appointed coach of the Malaysian squad on a short-term contract.

Singapore have beaten Malaysia 3-0 in the Stan Nagaiah Trophy one-day series in Kuala Lumpur. They won the first and last matches by convincing margins, although they only squeezed home by three wickets in the penultimate over in the middle game. Singapore now head to Europe for the ICC World Cricket League Division Five in Guernsey.