Beyond the Test World
Ugandan support for Yorkshire
Your newsagent is wearing a Yorkshire T-shirt – nothing too surprising, especially if you are in Leeds
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
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Most Ugandans wear imported second-hand clothes – huge bales arrive daily from the UK, US and other developed countries and are known locally as ‘mivumba’. David bought his T-shirt for 4,000 Ugandan shillings (£1.25). Although he knows little about its origins, David is proud of his Yorkshire connection as he goes about selling newspapers in a suburb close to Lake Victoria.
Kevin O’Connor, The Wisden Cricketer
Full postKevin O’Connor, The Wisden Cricketer
Afghans on parade at Sandhurst
Cricinfo's own Andrew Miller visited Sandhurst to watch the touring Afghanistan national side in action: This was a match-up that few could have envisaged
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Cricinfo's own Andrew Miller visited Sandhurst to watch the touring Afghanistan national side in action:
This was a match-up that few could have envisaged. The future leaders of the British Army, many of whom could soon be serving in Afghanistan itself as the military operation in Helmand is stepped up, versus the pioneers of a sport learned in exile in Pakistan and carried back home with enthusiasm after the fall of the Taliban regime.
It was never a close contest, but in the spirit of past tussles between the two nations, neither side gave an inch until the final run had been scored, whereupon the Last Post was sounded and the Academy's standard was lowered from the flag-pole outside the pavilion.
Full postNepal cricket on the up
An interesting article at the BBC today profiling Nepali cricket
Will
25-Feb-2013
An interesting article at the BBC today profiling Nepali cricket. Paresh Soni interviews Aamir Akhtar, who has attracted interest from Surrey and he hopes to play for their 2nd XI side.
"Things have gone well and Surrey have shown some interest. If I keep performing and reach the standard required I might get a contract," the allrounder told BBC Sport. "I've done well in a couple of matches and been training with them at The Oval.
"Junior cricket in Nepal is booming but because of the lack of infrastructure, players in their late 20s - who are mostly uneducated and unemployed - leave the game because they can't find sponsorship," the left-arm paceman and middle-order batsman explained.
"We only have one stadium dedicated to cricket with a proper turf pitch, in Kathmandu. Everywhere else you have to play on matting and in stadia shared with other sports.
Full postSwaziland Under-17s off to South Africa
The Swaziland Under-17s travel to South Africa today for two matches, on Saturday and Sunday.
Will
25-Feb-2013
The Swaziland Under-17s travel to South Africa today for two matches, on Saturday and Sunday.
Swaziland Cricket Association (SCA) Chief Coach Sohail Khan, who is also the National Under 17 squad's Head Coach said he was confident that the team would raise the country's flag sky high in these friendly games. Khan has also been appointed by the SCA executive to accompany the team which is expected back home next Monday.
"We had enough time for preparations. I'm optimistic that we will do well and win. The players have been co-operative and supportive during our training sessions. They are all in good shape and were committed in all the exercises they have been engaged in," he said. He added that the squad will today converge at 12p.m at the Sizzlers Restuarant in Mbabane. The Under 17 team is made up of James Megenn (Captain), Harris Rashid (Vice Captain), John, Lutfo Dlamini, Brendan Linsey, Stephen Nodder, Thetho Sengwayo, Jason Weeve, Mangaliso, Adib Miri, Patrick Stewart, Shoaib Ahmed and Simon Bycott.
More at the Swazi Observer
Full postDubai’s cricket oasis bulldozed
Mike Gatting has described the demise of the Dubai Cricket Council grounds in Al Jadaf as a “crying shame.” Gatting last played at the ground in March, when he captained the Lord’s Taverners in their annual charity fixture against Fly Emirates.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
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The DCC grounds, which housed seven cricket pitches, staged 500 matches a year until they were bulldozed last month to make way for what will eventually become Dubai Healthcare City. A replacement venue has yet to be found.
“I loved playing at the ground in Dubai, it was a little oasis out there, and it’s a crying shame that the facilities there couldn’t be saved. You just hope that somebody there might relocate them, but with the pace of development in Dubai that won’t be easy."
Mombasa festival underway
The four-team Atul Shah Memorial Cup kicked off in Mombasa on Wednesday with Kenya A going down by three wickets to Uganda and Coast Cricket Association beating Tanzania by 52 runs
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
The four-team Atul Shah Memorial Cup kicked off in Mombasa on Wednesday with Kenya A going down by three wickets to Uganda and Coast Cricket Association beating Tanzania by 52 runs. Live scores throughout the event, which ends with a final on Sunday, can be found by clicking here.
Full postBats replace guns in Afghanistan
An Afghanistan side is preparing for a seven-match tour of the UK which starts on June 11 and takes in several county 2nd XIs
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
An Afghanistan side is preparing for a seven-match tour of the UK which starts on June 11 and takes in several county 2nd XIs. Taj Malik, the coach, was keen to point out that the trip was about more than PR.
"The Afghanistan team will not be a joke. Our players have completed a 15-day training camp. They are ready to compete. All the Afghans in London are very keen and are waiting for the team."
The Afghanistan Cricket Foundation was only set up in 1995 in part as an effort to persuade young men involved in the civil war raging at the time to "pick up the ball and put down the gun," said one of the founders, Allah Dad Noori.
"When I saw the situation of my country, all the suffering, I thought, 'What can I do?'. At first they were not interested in the game but slowly, slowly you catch the monkey. I have seen people leave fighting and come and play cricket."
USA's unconstitutional review
The problems which blighted the USA Cricket Association last year might be about to resurface according to a report from Cricinfo's Deb K Das
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
The problems which blighted the USA Cricket Association last year might be about to resurface according to a report from Cricinfo's Deb K Das. It appears that the long-awaited constitutional review might not be all it seems after the intervention of one of the panel charged with the process.
She voted to junk the process of democratic elections for the USACA board and executive, and proposed instead that they should all be appointed by an expert panel to be named by USACA. This constitution would be submitted to the 35 presidents of the USACA member leagues for approval. There would be no vote of the USACA membership, and no elections for any USACA positions.
This would start the whole internal battle again, and Das wonders if the ICC would get involved.
Without decisive action on their part, USACA will continue on the same dysfunctional path that was first enunciated by Speed and Mani three years ago, and US cricket will continue to exist in its self-created doldrums.
MCC visit Jersey
The MCC are visiting Jersey this weekend:
Will
25-Feb-2013
The MCC are visiting Jersey this weekend:
Victoria College host the MCC on Saturday, at College Field, while the JICC do the entertaining on Sunday at Grainville. On Monday it's back to Grainville again for a fixture against a Jersey Cricket Board XI.
More information can be found at This is Jersey
Full postStanford cricket on the up
Cricket is not a sport associated with American University, but at Stanford the game is on the up , with improving facilities and two teams being run
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Cricket is not a sport associated with American University, but at Stanford the game is on the up, with improving facilities and two teams being run. While the participants mainly comes from the large expat community, interest is high.
"I’ve been here for 14 years, so I’ve seen a huge difference from last year and having the grounds back to the year I came in. Unless you were really passionate about the game, you wouldn’t even know we had a cricket club here at Stanford — I had to dig around to find out how to get involved — and now we’re right out in the open, so really it’s a huge difference."
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