Beyond the Test World
The roaring silence
Three days have passed since the extended deadline expired on voting to approve the new USA Cricket Association constitution
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Three days have passed since the extended deadline expired on voting to approve the new USA Cricket Association constitution. We were promised a result on December 27 but Chris Dehring, the independent third party overseeing the process, agreed to a four-day extension after claims that some voting forms were sent out late.
The hope was that the dawning of a new era would mean an end to the USACA’s dismissive approach to stakeholders and the media. Sadly, the deadline has come and gone and the USACA remains silent. Let’s hope this is not a sign of things to come, but it’s not a promising start.
Full postNepal announce Under-19 squad for World Cup
Nepal have announced a 15-man squad for next month's Under-19 World Cup in Malaysia
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
Nepal have announced a 15-man squad for next month's Under-19 World Cup in Malaysia. Roy Luke Dias, the coach, will be assisted by Jagat Tamata (assistant coach) and Tarakmani Dixit as the team manager.
Squad
Paras Khadka (capt), Gyanendra Malla (vice-captain), Mahesh Kumar Chhetri, Raj Shrestha, Amrit Bhatterai, Avay Rana, Aakash Kumar Gupta, Sagar Khadka, Antim Thapa, Rom Shrestha, Chandra Saud, Rahul Kumar BK, Anil Kumar Mandal, Pushpa Thapa and Subash Pradhan (reserves: Sunam Gautam, Santosh Baral and Nirmal Simangaida)
Full postDehring extends USACA ballot
Unease over the ratification of the revised constitution of the USA Cricket Association grew with the last-minute extension of the deadline for voting from December 27 to December 31.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Unease over the ratification of the revised constitution of the USA Cricket Association grew with the last-minute extension of the deadline for voting from December 27 to December 31.
The move by Chris Dehring, the independent third party appointed by the ICC, was largely in response to claims that some voting forms were not sent out in time for them to give clubs the required period to consider how they wanted to vote.
There were claims circulating last week that some forms were only dispatched on December 12, giving less than a fortnight for them to be completed and returned and not the 21 days required. By giving an extra four days, Dehring should have ensured that particular bone of contention has been put to rest.
It seems likely that Dehring's intervention will ensure that the new constitution is passed and that fresh elections can be held as a result. However, it is also growing abundantly clear that if those elections return Gladstone Dainty, the existing chairman, and his much-maligned executive then even some of those who have backed the new constitution will refuse to work with the board.
Full postAnother year, same old journalism
Some things remain depressingly constant and one of them is the media crusade against Cricket Kenya in The Nation .
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Some things remain depressingly constant and one of them is the media crusade against Cricket Kenya in The Nation.
“This was a year when Kenyan cricket sunk further into mediocrity despite Kenya’s triumph,” Richard Mwangi writes in an article mischievously and misleadingly entitled Kenya’s game still in the gutter, before a long rambling column which does little to substantiate his claim. He ends with a comment that the Cricket Kenya failed to hold an AGM “which could have ushered in new officials”. An explanation why might have helped but it suited his argument not to go into that.
Mwangi, like any reporter, is, of course, entitled to his views. But as we have stated before, there have to be questions as to who is pulling the strings of the general sniping. The board are privately angered by the stance of the Nation after several olive branches have been spurned or used to beat those offering them.
Kenya has issues for sure, but a year in which they won the World Cricket League and won 14 out of 17 ODIs, signed a new TV deal and a new sponsor cannot be all bad. But that’s not the kind of story that the Nation is interested in peddling. Kenyan cricket needs all the help it can get to rebuild, while being subjected to valid criticism, but they know by now that the mainstream newspapers won't be the ones to do that.
Full postAll you need to know about the USACA constitution
As the deadline for voting for the new USA Cricket Association looms, Chris Dehring, the independent third party appointed to oversee the process, has drawn up a Q&A to help answer stakeholders’ queries.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
As the deadline for voting for the new USA Cricket Association looms, Chris Dehring, the independent third party appointed to oversee the process, has drawn up a Q&A to help answer stakeholders’ queries.
Full postScotland announce Steindl as new coach
Peter Steindl, the former Scotland fast bowler, has been announced as the country's new coach, replacing Peter Drinnen who resigned in July.
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
Peter Steindl, the former Scotland fast bowler, has been announced as the country's new coach, replacing Peter Drinnen who resigned in July.
"After working with the squad last season on an interim basis I am delighted to progress to work full-time in preparing the team towards the 2009 ICC Trophy," Steindl said. "We have the opportunity to build on some excellent performances last season and prepare for an exciting fixture list this season. We have 16 months to prepare the squad for a massive event and the work starts now."
Drinnen resigned after a run of disappointing results, and the team played on without a permanent coach for the remainder of the summer as Steindl and Andy Tennant shared the position in an unofficial capacity. Steindl's tenure starts in earnest on January 1.
Full postCuba denied participation in Stanford 20/20
Cuba will not be playing in the 2008 Stanford 20/20 because of a political embargo by the USA government, the competition's board of directors has announced
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
Cuba will not be playing in the 2008 Stanford 20/20 because of a political embargo by the USA government, the competition's board of directors has announced. Click here for the full story.
Martin Williamson argues that there's a certain double irony about the USA's actions.
Full postTennant gains prestigious coaching qualification
Andy Tennant, Cricket Scotland’s newly-designated head of cricket, has become the first coach in Scotland to acquire a Level 4 coaching qualification, after a course which lasted over two years.
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
Andy Tennant, Cricket Scotland’s newly-designated head of cricket, has become the first coach in Scotland to acquire a Level 4 coaching qualification, after a course which lasted over two years.
“The course lasted 27 months,” Tennant said. “It consisted of 12 modules varying from three to five days in length. There were five assignments and a final assessment. The portfolio of supporting evidence about my coaching practice that I submitted for my final assessment was 17,000 words long!”
Tennant’s ‘cohort’ of colleagues who were also seeking a Level 4 qualification at the same time included candidates from the professional game in England and several well-known faces, including Chris Adams, the Sussex captain, together with Ian Salisbury and Graeme Fowler.
“I am delighted to have completed what has been an extremely long but rewarding journey,” Tennant said. “The ECB elite coaching programme is undoubtedly at the cutting edge of coaching and I am excited about using the knowledge and skills I have gained on the course to help Scottish cricket and our elite young cricketers to become even more competitive on the world stage.”
Full postUganda gain revenge over Kenya
Uganda underlined their growing reputation as one of cricket's emerging forces with a 12-run victory over neighbours Kenya in the final of the East and Central Africa Under-15 Championship
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Uganda underlined their growing reputation as one of cricket's emerging forces with a 12-run victory over neighbours Kenya in the final of the East and Central Africa Under-15 Championship. The win avenged their defeat by the Kenyans in last year's final.
Full post