Beyond the Test World
UAE looks to lure Asian Cricket Council to Dubai
It is being reported in the UAE that Dubai Sports City (DSC) is trying to get the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) to relocate a little more than a year after it lured the ICC away from Lord's.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
It is being reported in the UAE that Dubai Sports City (DSC) is trying to get the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) to relocate a little more than a year after it lured the ICC away from Lord's.
A report in the Khaleej Times claims that an offer has been made to the ACC and that a move could be almost immediate. The ICC is in temporary accommodation while the DSC is finished, and a similar arrangement could be implemented for the ACC.
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Full postUganda up the pace ahead of Kenya series
The Ugandan team is stepping up its preparations ahead of their series against Kenya, which starts on September 23 at Lugogo Oval.
Will
25-Feb-2013
The Ugandan team is stepping up its preparations ahead of their series against Kenya, which starts on September 23 at Lugogo Oval.
The players will now go through two training session a day, giving them more time to work on the batting skills which have been a problem for Uganda against stronger opposition.
Henry Okecho, the coach, told Daily Monitor: "The team is gelling well and everybody is looking good save for batsman Benjamin Musoke who is still nursing a slight injury. We shall name the final squad of 16 next Tuesday."
The tour will consist of three ODIs and a three-day game but Uganda will be without their star allrounders Kenneth Kamyuka and Junior Kwebiiha as well as youngsters Ahmed Yakub, Emmanuel Issanez and Patrick Ochan, who were dropped for various reasons.
Full postGreed is good where China is concerned
Hardly a week goes by these days without someone excitedly claiming that cricket is about to take-off in China
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Hardly a week goes by these days without someone excitedly claiming that cricket is about to take-off in China. Now it emerges that ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed will be in Beijing next week to find out how the land lies.
The China Cricket Association has unveiled a strategic plan that has 60,000 schoolchildren playing cricket in three years and 150,000 in five years, with Beijing, Shanghai and Dalian the hubs for promoting the game. Mandarin editions of the Laws of Cricket are now available in China while Australian cricketing officials have visited the country to conduct coaching courses.
But perhaps the real reason that cricket’s bosses are so keen on China was found in a remark by Syed Ashraful Huq, the boss of the Asian Cricket Council when he told DNA Sport that if China participated in future World Cups then “lucrative commercial windfalls would follow”. He added: “As soon as China breaks through, I foresee the total global revenues for cricket increasing by up to 30 to 40%."
As Gordon Gekko said in Wall Street: “Greed is good, greed is right … greed works.”
Full postWorld Cricket League to expand to five divisions
According to CricketEurope, the ICC will expand the World Cricket League to five divisions:
Will
25-Feb-2013
According to CricketEurope, the ICC will expand the World Cricket League to five divisions:
The leading five European nations have already won places in the first three divisions: World Cup qualifiers Ireland, The Netherlands and Scotland in Division 1 (which will take place in Kenya in January-February next year), Denmark in Division 2 (planned for Namibia in November 2007), and Italy in Division 3 (planned to take place in the USA in summer 2007).
But with an eight-team Division 5 tournament now planned for the first half of 2008, five places in which are assigned to the next ranked country in each region, Norway are guaranteed a slot, along with Afghanistan, Argentina, Botswana and the Cook Islands.
The three remaining places will be allocated by the ICC Development Committee when it meets in December, and those allocations will be based on the rankings of the next group of countries. This means that Jersey, runners-up to Norway in this year’s European Second Division tournament, and possibly even Germany, who finished third, will be competing with The Bahamas, Panama, Nepal, Singapore, Mozambique, Zambia and Japan for those last three positions.
Full postKenya head to Uganda
Kenya's preparations for next year's World Cup will continue later this month when they tour Uganda for three ODIs and a three-day match.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Kenya's preparations for next year's World Cup will continue later this month when they tour Uganda for three ODIs and a three-day match.
Full postSomerset cricketers suspended
Two Somerset cricketers have been suspended after incidents in their club’s match against Bailey's Bay at Sea Breeze Oval.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Two Somerset cricketers have been suspended after incidents in their club’s match against Bailey's Bay at Sea Breeze Oval.
Reid Jones was originally alleged to have physically assaulted umpire Richard (Red) Burrows after the ill-tempered match, while David Gibbs was alleged to have knocked down the stumps with his bat after being dismissed.
Full postCricket in America on the rise
Simon Worral, in the BBC’s From Our Own Correspondent radio programme, reports on the rise of cricket in America in which he watched the semi-final between Tropical Sports Club and North Atlanta.
Will
25-Feb-2013
Simon Worral, in the BBC’s From Our Own Correspondent radio programme, reports on the rise of cricket in America in which he watched the semi-final between Tropical Sports Club and North Atlanta.
But it felt like Sunday in Antigua. Under an awning, a large-hipped lady in a bandana barbecued jerk chicken in an oil drum. Men sat under the trees drinking Red Stripe and reminiscing about home. A copy of Ovid's Metamorphoses lay open on the ground.
The silver-haired man standing next to me was not any old bystander. His name was Desmond Lewis and in his cricketing heyday he had opened the batting for the Windies with Sir Garfield Sobers.
Cricket, he told me, has grown exponentially in America. When Des arrived in 1978, he could not find 11 players to make a team.
Full postDubai cricket season in limbo
The Dubai Cricket Council, which hosts the maximum tournaments in the UAE, has been unable to announce their schedule for the new season.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
The Dubai Cricket Council, which hosts the maximum tournaments in the UAE, has been unable to announce their schedule for the new season.
With the seven grounds in the Al Jadaf area being taken over for the construction of the Dubai Health City three months back, the DCC is left with no grounds to stage their events.
Click here for more from Gulf News.
Full postMCC off to China and Hong Kong
An MCC touring team, managed by J.A.F
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
An MCC touring team, managed by J.A.F. Vallance – who will be accompanying Tony Lewis, the MCC president, on his last official engagement – and captained by Min Patel (Kent and England), will leave Lord’s on September 25 for a 16-day tour of China and Hong Kong. The strong side – which also includes Dougie Brown (Warwickshire, Scotland and England), Simon Smith (Scotland) and Craig Wright (Scotland) – will play six matches on the tour, including a game against Hong Kong CC, one of MCC’s reciprocal clubs. This will be the first tour which the club has undertaken to China, and it is intended that as many coaching sessions as possible will be held in order to foster the game in the region.
On September 26, a separate touring team will visit Botswana and Zambia for a 14-day visit to play five matches. The side will be managed by R.W. Ibbotson and captained by Stuart Barnes (Gloucestershire).
Full postFinland return to Division 3
Finland have returned to Division 3 of the European Championships after winning this week's 4th division tournament in Belgium.
Will
25-Feb-2013
Finland have returned to Division 3 of the European Championships after winning this week's 4th division tournament in Belgium.
Speaking to the teams at the tournament’s closing dinner, ICC European Development Manager Richard Holdsworth pointed out that three years ago Norway had played in the equivalent competition.
‘By winning three consecutive tournaments,’ Holdsworth said, ‘they have earned promotion to the 1st Division, and will also be part of Division 5 of the World Cricket League in 2007-2008.
‘This gives them an opportunity to reach the 2009 ICC Trophy, the qualifying tournament for the 2011 World Cup. In preparation for all this, they will receive a grant of $US20,000.’
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