Beyond the Test World
Kenyan board suspends Centrals province
Cricket Kenya (CK) has suspended its Central province ahead of next month's board elections.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Cricket Kenya (CK) has suspended its Central province ahead of next month's board elections.
"The province has not promoted any form of the game in their area of jurisdiction," Samir Inamdar, CK's chairman, told Cricinfo. "They have less than the prescribed three active clubs as required for the formation of branches. The decision to suspend their membership of CK was unanimously reached in a special council meeting. "
The province was set up by the old Kenyan Cricket Association, and at the time Cricinfo reported that it appeared to have been created to give the existing board extra votes as there was little evidence of any meaningful cricket being played there.
When the old KCA executive was ousted in May 2005, the new board decided to embrace Centrals (and Rift Valley, another disputed new province) and try to promote the game there.
To safeguard the possibility that a province could not simply be guaranteed its place as a member with representation rights without ensuring that it had a minimal level of cricket being played within it, it was decided, in keeping with past practice, that a province had to have a minimum of three cricket-playing clubs to remain as a provincial affiliate.
Full postMissing Ugandan player found
Two Ugandan cricketers who disappeared at the end of the World cricket League in Darwin earlier this month have been found by Australia’s Immigration Department in Adelaide.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Two Ugandan cricketers who disappeared at the end of the World cricket League in Darwin earlier this month have been found by Australia’s Immigration Department in Adelaide.
The Age reported that Patrick Ochan, 18, and Jimmy Okello, 19, are expected to apply to stay in the country. It said that the pair were staying with Ken Skewes, a young South Australia player, and he contacted the authorities when he realised that the men were being sought. The paid have valid visas until June 28, so no further action is expected until then.
Full postTwenty20 tournament to be held in Fujairah
The Gulf News reports that a ten-team tournament will be held in Fujairah between June 21 and August 2.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
The Gulf News reports that a ten-team tournament will be held in Fujairah between June 21 and August 2.
Called the Crown Prince Cup, the event will feature four teams from Fujairah and six from other emirates. Matches will be played under Twenty20 rules.
"More and more UAE nationals are having a growing interest in cricket, so I can promise you that in the future there will be a UAE cricket team with 100% Emirati representation, “Sultan Saif Al Samahi, cChairman of Fannan Sports and Cultural Club, said. “Of course, youth form Fujairah will get their chance in that dream".
"This is a chance to mingle with different communities such as the Indian, Pakistanis, Sri Lankan and Bangladeshis, who have a great passion for the game,” Ahmad Ebrahim Saif, chief coordinator for the tournament, said. "We are sure that, during and after the tournament, there will be more UAE nationals who will find this game very interesting."
Full postDeal opens door for USA return
The USA may well be readmitted to the international fold after talks between the warring factions battling for control of the USA Cricket Association in Washington over the weekend.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
The USA may well be readmitted to the international fold after talks between the warring factions battling for control of the USA Cricket Association in Washington over the weekend.
The USA was suspended by the ICC in March after two rival groups claimed to be the rightful ones to run the game in the country. The ICC asked the West Indies board (WICB) to intervene and try to find a solution. Only when the WICB reported back that the dispute had been settled would a readmission be considered.
Ken Gordon, the WICB president, met with the USA Cricket Association and representatives of the regional league presidents and the two sides agreed to revise the review of the constitution so that all stakeholders could be consulted. There were deep concerns at the short time given by the USACA for examination and debate of the previous new constitution before it had to be approved.
While specifics are hard to come by, a statement said that "the USACA has agreed to the proposals for the way forward made by the ICC and will move promptly to remove all impediments to the lifting of the suspension from Associate Membership imposed by that body". Firm time lines have been fixed and these will be closely observed.
Full postMCC heads to the States
The Daily Telegraph reports that MCC is looking to establish a body called MCC America to help with coaching and coordinating the games development in the USA.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
The Daily Telegraph reports that MCC is looking to establish a body called MCC America to help with coaching and coordinating the games development in the USA.
Although the news is a much-needed boost for the USA at a time its association has been suspended by the ICC following a disputed election and implementation of a questionable new constitution, there are toes likely to be trodden on.
Firstly, the USA Cricket Association, a body with a soviet-style approach to openness and transparency, is still nominally in charge of all aspects of the game and is likely to treat the idea as a threat more than an opportunity.
Secondly, the USACA has signed a deal with a marketing company called Centrex which aims to pass all the marketing and promotion of the game to a joint-venture third-party body. That new organisation will also be responsible for arranging and hosting ODIs featuring India and West Indies in the USA.
Full postWest Indies stars head to New York
American cricket has had a boost of a kind recently and there’s more good news in store
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
American cricket has had a boost of a kind recently and there’s more good news in store. An all-star cast of West Indian players is heading to New York to play a celebrity match as part of a celebratory Caribbean Week in the city. Joel Garner, Gordon Greenidge, Colin Croft and Larry Gomes are among those who will be turning out – although some may say they would be better served at Old Trafford this week.
Full postDubai super stadium to open in January
The Gulf News reports that the Dubai Sports City cricket stadium will open in January 2008 and the first international match could be as soon as March next year.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
The Gulf News reports that the Dubai Sports City cricket stadium will open in January 2008 and the first international match could be as soon as March next year.
The 25,000-seater ground, which will be totally covered, features a roof that is able to withstand all weather patterns and even absorb dust storms and moisture and provide a cool atmosphere. The pitch will be suited to one-day cricket and soil and grass from different parts of the world are being experimented with.
Click here for the full story
Full postKenya to host 2008 Afro-Asia Cup
Kenya is likely to host the next Afro-Asia Cup which will be held in June next year, the Asian Cricket Council has announced.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Kenya is likely to host the next Afro-Asia Cup which will be held in June next year, the Asian Cricket Council has announced.
The hosting alternates between Africa and Asia and only time there is a gap in the international calendar in the next two years is in the second, third and fourth weeks of June 2008, hence the timing of the competition.
"The likely venue is Kenya where the facilities and weather would be ideal," Syed Ashraful Haq, the ACC chief executive, said. Money raised by the tournament is split 70% to the host association, 20% to the visitors and 10% to the Sightsavers charity.
The last major tournament hosted in Kenya was the 2000 ICC Champions Trophy but there were concerns raised at the time about the organisation and support from the local population. Given that the 2005 event was held in South Africa, the choice was between Zimbabwe and Kenya, and the deteriorating political and social situation in Zimbabwe made that to risky an option.
Full postAnother Caribbean crisis
Associates cricket is on something of a high at the moment
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Associates cricket is on something of a high at the moment. Ireland did the second-tier countries proud at the World Cup, there are a number of full ODIs set to take place involving Associates and Full Members, and the World Cricket League Division Three, which finished in Darwin at the weekend, showed that the game does have strength in depth. In 2009, extra funding resulting from the ICC's media deal with ESPN should also kick in giving a further fillip.
But while the leading Associates press on with ambitious plans to try to bridge the divide between them and most Full Members, there is one country where the profile of the game is heading in the wrong direction - Bermuda .
A year or so ago, Bermudan cricket looked to be heading for great things. Despite the restrictions of a tiny population, the game, which has strong roots on the island, was thriving.
On the strength of the country qualifying for the 2007 World Cup, the government agreed to donate US$11 million to the Bermuda Cricket Board over five years. On top of that the BCB received more than US$250,000 from its participation in the Stanford 20-20, and then there were ICC grants totalling more than US$200,000 a year. Bermuda 's direct rivals, the other five Associates which qualified for the World Cup, only had ICC funding and local sponsorships to build on. It should have given them a huge advantage.
Full postConcern grows as Ugandan players go missing
It appears two of Uganda's players, who won Division Three of the World Cricket League , have gone missing in Australia.
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
It appears two of Uganda's players, who won Division Three of the World Cricket League, have gone missing in Australia.
Patrick Ochan, 18, and Jimmy Okello, 19, from the same village in Uganda's north, failed to reunite with their team following the ICC World Cricket League 3 Division final in Darwin at the weekend.
Uganda's national team, which won the match, has since gone home, saying they hope the missing players will follow and won't seek to stay permanently in Australia.
A spokeswoman for Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews confirmed the pair were still in Australia.
Full post