Beyond the Test World
Early start to Nigeria's season
Nigeria's season begins on October 7 this year, a couple of weeks earlier than usual due to a packed schedule .
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
Nigeria's season begins on October 7 this year, a couple of weeks earlier than usual due to a packed schedule.
Nigeria's Cricket new season will kick off on Oct. 7, according to the president of the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF).
Kwesi Sagoe said the federation has decided to begin the 2007/2008 season earlier than previous years because of a very tight schedule in the coming months which will see several local competitions that include the Iris Smart Technologies (CCC) League and the Super Four.
Sagoe said apart from the tight domestic schedule, Nigeria will be hosting the Second North/West African Cricket Tournament sometime in April or May next year, Lagos-based the Guardian reported Wednesday.
Full postBotswana schoolchildren hungry for cricket
The number of participants in Botswana's youth development programme has swelled dramatically from 300 children to almost 1300 in under six months, and shows no signs of abating.
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
The number of participants in Botswana's youth development programme has swelled dramatically from 300 children to almost 1300 in under six months, and shows no signs of abating.
Seven more schools have joined the initiative which has been sponsored by the ICC and the African Cricket Council (ACC) to promote the game to a wider, younger audience. Such is the enthusiasm that a league has been set-up for government primary schools.
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Full postNigeria seek grant to expand grass facilities
The Nigerian Cricket Association has applied for a special grant from the African Cricket Association to help expand the game.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
The Nigerian Cricket Association has applied for a special grant from the African Cricket Association to help expand the game.
"We intend to develop at least two turf wickets in the country," NCA president Kwesi Sagoe said. "The absence of the facility has held down our game for too long.
"There are a number of other countries also queuing for grants from ACA for different purposes. Ours is to develop grass wickets.”
Full postSimmons applies for West Indies coaching post
The caribbeancricket.com website has reported that Phil Simmons, the current Ireland coach, is among those who have applied for the vacant West Indies coaching post .
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
The caribbeancricket.com website has reported that Phil Simmons, the current Ireland coach, is among those who have applied for the vacant West Indies coaching post.
Simmons coached Zimbabwe before taking charge of Ireland five months ago.
Full postUSA umpire recognised for services
Hammy Reid, one of the few internationally qualified umpires in the USA, has been inducted into the United States Cricket Association’s (USACA) Hall of Fame
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
Hammy Reid, one of the few internationally qualified umpires in the USA, has been inducted into the United States Cricket Association’s (USACA) Hall of Fame. Dreamcricket.com have more:
Reid was made an honorary member of Unity Sports and Cultural Association of Boston, Massachusetts in 1994. In 1997, he sat and passed the West Indies Cricket Umpires Association Certifying Final Written, Oral and Practical examinations. In that same year he was selected as a USA representative umpire to officiate at an ICC Trophy Tournament in Malaysia. He was selected again in 2001 as a USA umpire at the ICC trophy tournament in Toronto, Canada. In 2002, Hammy officiated at the Second Americas Cricket Championships held in Argentina, and also at the ICC Americas Under-15 championships held at Disney World of Sports in Florida. In 2003 and 2004, Hammy officiated at the United States of America Cricket Association (USACA) Regional Finals held in Houston and Dallas, Texas, respectfully. Currently, he is the longest serving USACUA cricket umpire at the ICC level in USA and has held the position of ICC match umpire for seven years. He continues to diligently serve cricket in the USA, and on July 9, 2006 he officiated in the West Indies XI vs. USA Select XI match at Floyd Bennett Field, Brooklyn, NY.
Youth cricket in Botswana
Cricket continues to develop in Botswana, particularly among students, according to the Republic's government website .
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
Cricket continues to develop in Botswana, particularly among students, according to the Republic's government website.
The third phase of cricket development kicked off this week with 500 students from seven government primary schools joining the programme. Botswana Cricket Association (BCA) Development Officer Girish Ramakrishna said the total number of students now stands at 1300, with more bound to join as the programme expands. The first and second phase of development covered nine (9) schools with over 800 students.
The cricket grassroots development programme, almost similar to the Botswana Football Associations Re Ba Bona Ha programme, has been able to spread to more schools. The seven primary schools that have just joined the initiative are the Batlokwa, Mophane, Lesedi, Botsalano, and Ben Thema, Galaletsang, and Ramogotsi. International Cricket Council (ICC) in collaboration with the African Cricket Council has sponsored the programme, with equipment donated to various primary schools.
Ramakrishna said they would launch the cricket league for government primary schools this year in October, to take the cricket game forward. The young cricketers gather at the BCA cricket oval every Saturday morning where they are drilled. The programme also runs during school holidays. Ramakrishna said BCA is happy about the enthusiastic response and they are happy to see that more schools are coming under the programme.
Full postSpeed excited by Twenty20 in USA
Is Twenty20 the catalyst to popularise cricket in the USA
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
Will Luke
Is Twenty20 the catalyst to popularise cricket in the USA? Malcolm Speed, the ICC chief executive, is excited at what the shortened format could do to cricket in the States.
Baseballs reigns supreme, of course, but cricket enjoys a thriving community in America. And the USA were once an Associate member of the ICC, before they were suspended in March (again) for failing to adopt a new constitution. But the current administration has done little to inspire confidence and the incumbent president, Gladstone Dainty, is blamed (not entirely fairly) for many of the problems.
Nevertheless, Twenty20 could provide a much-needed injection of enthusiasm to USA’s cricket community.
Full postAt the foothills of Mount Kenya: Cricket in the Wild
The second Cricket in the Wild event takes place on Friday at the foothills of Mount Kenya
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
The second Cricket in the Wild event takes place on Friday at the foothills of Mount Kenya. The three-day event, designed to raise funds to support the Ol Pejeta Conservancy - a 90,000 acre wildlife park - which, it is hoped, will aid the development of schools and other local facilities.
Each of the eight teams, split into two leagues, is required to raise a minimum of KS200,000 (USD2,900) - usually by sponsorship - to secure their place in the tournament. The cricket itself will be 10 overs per side with eight-ball overs.
Full postAdastrians retain Quebec title
By Eddie Norfolk
ESPNcricinfo staff
25-Feb-2013
By Eddie Norfolk
Adastrians retained the Quebec Cricket Federation Championship on Saturday by beating Pak-Can by 98 runs at Raymond Park, La Salle, Montreal.
Adastrians batted first but lost early wickets, struggling to 44 for 4. But they recovered to make a potentially assailable 227, but Pak-Can came up way short, dismissed for 129.
Canadian international Qaiser Ali starred with a century, mostly made during a pivotal fifth-wicket partnership of 136 runs with Ahmer Sultan. Sultan was bowled one short of a half-century. Vinod Takar pitched in with a useful unbeaten 34.
Full postPetrook resigns from Canadian board
Howard Petrook has resigned as the vice-president of the Canadian cricket Association and the high performance manager with effect from the end of September for personal reasons.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Howard Petrook has resigned as the vice-president of the Canadian cricket Association and the high performance manager with effect from the end of September for personal reasons.
Full post