Beyond the Test World
Breakaway in Oman over national selection
A group of Omani national cricketers are trying to form a breakaway group after the Oman Cricket Club, who run the game in the country, backed by the Sports Ministry, refused to bow to their demands for more representation in the national side.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
A group of Omani national cricketers are trying to form a breakaway group after the Oman Cricket Club, who run the game in the country, backed by the Sports Ministry, refused to bow to their demands for more representation in the national side.
"Our doors are always open and we have done everything to convince the group to continue playing in the tournaments organised by us," Maqbool Yousuf Al Lawati, vice president of the OCC, told Gulf News. "They [the Omani nationals] wanted 60% representation in the national team. We cannot accept that condition as we are here to pick the best and cricket is not played only by the Omani nationals, every resident in the country must get a fair chance, including expatriates."
A group of about 90 Omani nationals, three-quarters of the country’s players, have started playing their own tournament outside the official league in protest against OCC's refusal to accept their demands which the elected board members of the OCC termed as 'unreasonable'.
Full postDamned if they do ...
Our old friend Chris Tsuma has used the season of goodwill to all men to have another one of his digs at Cricket Kenya, although at least this time he has stopped short of saying that the return of Sharad Ghai would signal the dawn of a new era of
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Our old friend Chris Tsuma has used the season of goodwill to all men to have another one of his digs at Cricket Kenya, although at least this time he has stopped short of saying that the return of Sharad Ghai would signal the dawn of a new era of unheralded success.
In his year-end round-up in The Nation, Tsuma was faced with a problem. The new board had ensured the national team played more ODIs in the last 12 months than in the previous three years, and had also signed a lucrative TV deal which would ensure that funds went directly to the game in Kenya, something that previous deals had been accused of not doing. So what could he take a pop at?
Easy. Why were Kenya not hosting home series against a Test nation or even A-team matches against leading countries. Tsuma, never one to let detail get in the way of a good attack, seems to overlook the reluctance of major countries to tour minnows – ask Bangladesh for starters. But, he then has a go at the board for the results – two whitewashes – when they did get major opposition from Australia and Bangladesh.
For sure there is much room for improvement, but there is also, as he well knows, much baggage to be lost. Kenya have taken steps to build for the future, but it will take time. A little support from the country’s main newspaper might not go amiss. Just don’t expect it from Tsuma.
Full postUganda to tour Kenya in January
Uganda kick of 2007 with a tour to Kenya in January where they will play a select Nairobi Provincial Cricket Association (NPCA XI) side, Kenya, Canada and Bermuda.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Uganda kick of 2007 with a tour to Kenya in January where they will play a select Nairobi Provincial Cricket Association (NPCA XI) side, Kenya, Canada and Bermuda.
The Ugandans will take on the NPCA select side on January 24, play the hosts Kenya or Kenya A on January 26, Canada on January 27 and conclude the tour with a match against Bermuda on January 28. " We have lined up some of the ICC’s top Associates because they will also use the games as warm up ties for the ICC World Cricket League tournament that runs at the same time," said Cricket Kenya’s CEO, Tom Tikolo.
Uganda v NPCA XI (Jan 24)
Uganda v Kenya (Jan 26)
Uganda v Canada (Jan 27)
Uganda v Bermuda (Jan 28)
Full postUganda v Kenya (Jan 26)
Uganda v Canada (Jan 27)
Uganda v Bermuda (Jan 28)
Bermuda delay picking World Cup squad
Bermuda have delayed naming their squad for the World Cup, citing " a number of factors" leading to the board waiting until February 11, just before the ICC's deadline, to name the final 15.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Bermuda have delayed naming their squad for the World Cup, citing " a number of factors" leading to the board waiting until February 11, just before the ICC's deadline, to name the final 15.
The local media had been expecting the announcement, but instead they got a 19-man training squad, which will be reduced to 15 in January when Bermuda take part in the World Cricket League in Kenya.
The only thing that was confirmed was that Irving Romaine will captain the Bermuda team , replacing Clay Smith, who had been in charge since 2003 but whose tenure has been blighted by a string of injuries. "It's been an honour to captain my country and I cannot deny that it's something I enjoyed doing immensely," Smith said."But it's also an honour just to represent your country and from my perspective, I have always tried to put the interests of the team before my own. The selectors have made a decision which they feel is in the best interests of the team and I am happy to fulfill whatever role is required of me."
Bermuda have been under fire after some poor performances in 2006, and Gus Logie, the coach, did address one are of concern, the side's mental toughness. "One of the problems I have is we learn lessons and then we go back," he told the island's Royal Gazette. "That, for me, is most frustrating. Guys know 'if I have a late night then I might not perform as well as I want to'. Then why take the risk?
Full postJersey bids for ICC Associate memnership
Jersey has submitted an application to the ICC to become Europe’s 11th Associate member country.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Jersey has submitted an application to the ICC to become Europe’s 11th Associate member country.
The decision follows the Associate/Affiliate Members’ formal meeting in July 2006, where it was noted that the previously problematic interpretation of the “playing standard” criterion had to be dealt with immediately. Subsequently the ICC “playing standard” criterion for Associate membership applications was reviewed at a Special Associate and Affiliate Representatives’ Committee meeting in November and a new definition was established and adopted. This new criterion was then unanimously supported by the ICC Development Committee at its meeting on December 5 and 6.
Jersey are one of two ICC Affiliate members (the other being Vanuatu of the East Asia-Pacific Region) who had submitted applications for Associate membership to the ICC Development Committee before the change in the playing standards criterion came about. These applications no longer meet the new “playing standard” and under the new conditions the applications would be rejected. However, the Jersey Cricket Board has now been given the opportunity to meet the playing standard criteria by May 31, 2007 and if successful its application will be considered at the next ICC Annual Conference in June 2007.
Full postTrouble in Thailand
As cricket develops in new countries, true cricket lovers take great pleasure in seeing young cricketers improve their skills
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
As cricket develops in new countries, true cricket lovers take great pleasure in seeing young cricketers improve their skills. However, in the last few months, a coup of another kind has happened in Thai cricket.
In the last month, there was an AGM of the Thai Cricket Association. The incumbent president, a prominent businessman, had been in the role for a considerable time, and the clubs thought it time for a change in direction at the top to push cricket development forward.
Thai cricket is spread throughout the country, clubs dominate the scene in Bangkok, but youth development is flourishing in the provinces. It was believed that a new strategy to pull the organisation together and push it forward was needed.
The vote was held, a new face was elected to head up the organisation, all seemed well. Unbeknown to the voting clubs and the committee, the incumbent chairman had registered another "dummy" committee consisting of his family, and employees with the government authorities. The vote had been a farce, and the incumbent appears to want to be president forever in defiance of the vote. Being a member of a prominent sports club in Bangkok, it is now also a case of I bring the pitch, so I am captain.
Full postHigh hopes for European Cricket
The announcement that the ICC is to expand the World Cricket League (WCL) to five divisions is great news for European Cricket.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
The announcement that the ICC is to expand the World Cricket League (WCL) to five divisions is great news for European Cricket.
The expansion will see a total of seven Associates and Affiliates from the Europe Region compete in the WCL. New additions Norway and Jersey are set to join the European top five teams who already compete in the competition.
Ireland, Netherlands and Scotland will participate in Division 1 in Kenya in January next year, and Denmark compete in Division 2 which is planned for Namibia in November 2007.
A change in venue for Division 3 moves the competition from the USA to Darwin, Australia in May/June 2007. Italy is grouped in Group B of this league alongside Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Hong Kong, whilst Group A is made up of USA, Uganda, Cayman Islands and Tanzania.
Full postUSA faces ongoing constitutional crisis
Once again, time is running out for the USA Cricket Association to live up to its basic responsibilities
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Once again, time is running out for the USA Cricket Association to live up to its basic responsibilities. And this time, there are not likely to be any further reprieves.
The trouble started when the USACA asked for yet more time to write and approve its constitution. The current deadline was November 20, which itself had been a postponement from the original date of July 2006. This time, said the ICC, the deadline would be March 2007, but that would be it—no further extensions would be granted.
In fact, USACA’s Constitution Review Committee (CRC) had already produced a draft for the USACA. Its existence, however, had been a well-guarded secret. No one outside the USACA executive and board had any idea when it had been prepared, let alone what its contents were.
Then came the bombshell. An alert board member noticed that a draft USACA constitution had indeed been posted on the web site, but it was completely different from the CRC version. Moreover, this “new and improved” draft was a complete mess; it was riddled with errors and inconsistencies, contradicted itself on many key points, and used arbitrary formulas for counting member votes that made no particular sense.
Full postParfitt calls for shake-up of Bermudan cricket
Clarence Parfitt, the former Bermuda batsman, has said his country needs to undergo a radical “shake-up” before next January’s World Cricket League in Kenya.
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
Clarence Parfitt, the former Bermuda batsman, has said his country needs to undergo a radical “shake-up” before next January’s World Cricket League in Kenya.
“I think half the team should go because they’re not strong enough mentally and physically to play cricket at this level consistently where you have to be mentally tough,” the legendary figure argued.
“There are a few boys in there that are pulling their weight, but I think the rest of them are just going through the motions. And it just doesn’t look good and they should be feeling embarrassed because if I was in that squad I would be.”
Read the full report at the Royal Gazette
Full postDomestic changes in the Netherlands
he 2007 season will be one of Netherlands' busiest with international fixtures against Canada, Ireland and Scotland as well as the World Cup in March.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
he 2007 season will be one of Netherlands' busiest with international fixtures against Canada, Ireland and Scotland as well as the World Cup in March.
In the light of this, the country's domestic competition has been revamped, although changes have fallen short of what some had been hoping for.
There had been those who had asked for as much as six weeks' breaks during international competitions when national players will be absent, but when that was done during the ICC Trophy in 2005 it proved unpopular.
The main change to the Hoofdklasse is that the title will, for the first time, be decided by play-offs between the top four rather than a straight league, and it is hoped this will reduce the impact of top players missing some rounds of the competition.
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