Beyond the Test World
Adeel Raja suspension reduced
The suspension of Adeel Raja, the Netherlands offspinner, has been reduced to eight months following an appeal from his board.
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
The suspension of Adeel Raja, the Netherlands offspinner, has been reduced to eight months following an appeal from his board.
On 9 September last year, after the Hoofdklasse final, Raja tested positive for the banned substance finasteride, which he had been taking as a measure against hair loss. He had received a dispensation from the KNCB, but when this expired on 1 July 2007 he had omitted to apply for an extension.
Finasteride is banned because it can be used as a masking agent to disguise the use of steroids. There was no suggestion that Raja had employed any other banned agent, or that he had derived any advantage from his use of finasteride.
The KNCB Disciplinary Committee had imposed a two year suspension, with the second year suspended, meaning that Raja would have been unable to take any part in the 2008 domestic season.
Full postBotswana cricket continues to develop
The cricket development programme in Botswana continues to grow in leaps and bounds
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
The cricket development programme in Botswana continues to grow in leaps and bounds. The first phase of the programme for this year kicked Off in February which saw at least 524 students from seven government primary schools registered for the programme this year. The Botswana Cricket Association (BCA) Development Officer, Girish Ramakrishna, told the Sunday Standard that since the inception of the programme last year, the number of schools in and around Gaborone, including those in the Kgatleng District have expressed interest to join the programme.
This year the interest shown of schools joining the programme has been much higher in comparison to the total number of registrations they had last year. The cricket grassroots development programme is aimed at promoting cricket and to spot talent at grassroots level. According to Ramakrishna, the programme involves, among other things, administration courses and basic teachers training courses. He added that “The best way to nature talent is targeting students at the grassroots level because these are formative years for a child. The child is energetic and there is lot of enthusiasm,” he revealed. Ramakrishna further revealed that they have teamed up with the Kings Foundation, which imparts valuable life skills to children after the cricket development programme sessions. He said given his experience, he wants to take cricket in the country to greater heights. “I have been working with children for 25 years. Our aim this year is to have more government schools participating in the league.”
This first appeared in an ICC Development Programme newsletter
Full postNews from Nigeria
The Cricket Tour of Nigeria by London Nigerians Cricket Club (LNCC) tagged "Beyond the Boundary" ended on Sunday, March 30 at the Tafawa Balewa Cricket Oval with thrills
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
The Cricket Tour of Nigeria by London Nigerians Cricket Club (LNCC) tagged "Beyond the Boundary" ended on Sunday, March 30 at the Tafawa Balewa Cricket Oval with thrills. The tour which took them from Lagos to Abuja and back to Lagos was very successful and memorable for the tourists. This was the third tour of the club since the maiden one in 2000. The second tour was in 2006. The tour has been organized by the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF). Nigeria also held a press conference in which the NCF President welcomed all Guests and Members of the Press to the official unveiling of the North West Africa Cricket Championship (NWACC) Logo. Mr. Albert Okumagba, MD/CEO of BGL was called upon to perform the unveiling of the NWACC logo. The NWACC will be hosted by Nigeria at three venues, TBS, University of Lagos both in Lagos and MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta.
From 1st to 11th April, 2008, Nigeria will host the 2nd NWACC tournament and the NCF is determined to increase the profile of the sport in the country. The NCF President mentioned that he is pleased to advise that the ACA is particularly delighted with their progress administratively in the last two years and is ready to assist in transferring that success to the field of play so that they can qualify for better levels of funding from the ICC.
GTA 20/20 CRICKET TOURNEY: ROCKS CC & FCC FOR FINAL
On Sunday, March 16, the Tafawa Balewa Cricket Oval was set on fire with the sound of willow on leather as the semi-final matches of the maiden edition of GTA 20/20 Cricket Tournament lived up to the expectations of cricket enthusiasts.
Full postUSA Cricket Association back in ICC fold
The United States of America Cricket Association (USACA) has been re-recognised as an Associate member of the ICC following their suspension in March 2007.
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
The United States of America Cricket Association (USACA) has been re-recognised as an Associate member of the ICC following their suspension in March 2007.
The USACA held their elections at the weekend when Gladstone Dainty - despite facing strong criticism over the past few years - was re-elected president, beating off the favourite, Ram Varadarajan, who was widely tipped for the post. The elections were a last-gasp effort for American cricket; without a formal constitution in place, the ICC would have had no other choice than to continue their suspension. With that particular condition met, the ICC's president, Ray Mali, was pleased to welcome the board back as an Associate member.
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Full postICC suspends two Nepal bowlers
The ICC has suspended Sagar Khadka and Rahul Biswokarm, two Nepal spin bowlers, for possessing illegal actions.
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
The ICC has suspended Sagar Khadka and Rahul Biswokarm, two Nepal spin bowlers, for possessing illegal actions.
The two spinners from Region No 4 Bhairahawa were part of the Nepali team that reached the plate final of the Youth World Cup held in Malaysia in February. As one of the key players of the team, Rahul took 10 wickets and scored 51 runs in six matches while Sagar took two wickets and scored 47 runs in as many matches.
“I have not been informed about this,” Rahul, considered a player for watch, said over telephone. “I don’t think my bowling action is suspicious and if there is any shortcoming, I can improve on that.”
nepalcricket.com has the full story.
Full postSuva Crusaders raise Dwarka Prasad trophy
Tony Munro
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
Tony Munro
The Suva Crusaders, has won Fiji's annual interdistrict competition, the Dwarka Prasad trophy, by 43 runs.
The team from Fiji's capital batted first in final of the 50-over tournament held over Easter amassing 129 before dismissing Moce, one of Fiji's eastern islands, for 86. Six teams, Crusaders, Moce, Suva Islanders, Tubou, Ono I Lau and Lautoka played. Competition for grounds and playing areas from rugby union, a perennial problem, limited the number of competing teams.
Meanwhile, Tubou from the island of Lakeba, is set to have its 40-year-hold on the Dewar's Shield contested, when Moce travels to Tubou this October.
Full postDainty re-elected as USACA president
In a result which won't exactly boost the the profile of US cricket internationally, Gladstone Dainty has been re-elected as president of the USA Cricket Association by three votes.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
In a result which won't exactly boost the the profile of US cricket internationally, Gladstone Dainty has been re-elected as president of the USA Cricket Association by three votes.
Dainty, who has overseen the almost catastrophic implosion of the USACA in recent years and under whose tenure the association was suspended from international cricket by the ICC, polled 18 of the 34 votes cast. Ram Varadarajan, who was widely expected to beat Dainty after running a slick campaign, polled 15 votes while Kamran Khan got 1.
It was not all good news for Dainty. Selwyn Ceasar, the much-criticised treasurer, was defeated by Varadarajan's running mate John Thickett by 18 votes to 16 while John Aaron beat Paul De Silva.
Nabeel Ahmed won the vote to be first vice-president by a large margin while Manaf Mohamed saw off Suresh Anne and Jefroy Morrishaw in the vote for the second vice-president.
Full postYoung Maybury hotfoots to England
Greg Maybury, a promising 14-year-old swing bowler, has become the second young Bermuda player to enrol at Oakham School near Peterborough in England, and is to further his cricketing career by attending a University Centre of Cricketing Excellence
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
Greg Maybury, a promising 14-year-old swing bowler, has become the second young Bermuda player to enrol at Oakham School near Peterborough in England, and is to further his cricketing career by attending a University Centre of Cricketing Excellence (UCCE).
"I am really looking for to this challenge," Maybury told The Royal Gazette. "They [Oakham] have great coaches with good philosophies and excellent facilities. I can only get better in the sport as well as in academics, so there is no better place to do these two than in England."
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Full postJahanara hat-trick seals clean sweep for Bangladesh
Bangladesh Women recorded a clean 4-0 sweep of Hong Kong who crashed to another humiliating defeat in Mirpur
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
Bangladesh Women recorded a clean 4-0 sweep of Hong Kong who crashed to another humiliating defeat in Mirpur. Bangladesh have completely outplayed Hong Kong all series and their 211 for 9 was always going to be more than sufficient, even if they did lose their last five wickets for 36. Salma Khatun top-scored with 63. Hong Kong got off to a reasonably competent start, with their captain – the New Zealand-born Neisha Pratt – again standing out with 61. That was Hong Kong’s only peak, however: the next highest scores were 14 and 6 while the rest – including Nos. 5-11 - all registered ducks. The match was wrapped up in the 41st over with Jahanara Alam, bowling her first over, removing the last three to claim a hat-trick and dismiss Hong Kong for 96.
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