Beyond the Test World

Record entry for Chiang Mai Sixes

The Bangkok Post reports that the Chiang Mai International Cricket Sixes will stake place at the Chiang Mai Gymkhana Club starting this weekend

25-Feb-2013

The Bangkok Post reports that the Chiang Mai International Cricket Sixes will stake place at the Chiang Mai Gymkhana Club starting this weekend. It will be the 19th time the event has been staged and 31 teams from across the world will be taking part, equally the record turnout.

A group of Sri Lankans, led by ex-Test star Amal Silva, will pay their own way to take part. In addition ex-Aussie international Trevor Chappell is expected to play with the New South Wales Warathais team.

Belize win inaugural Central American Cricket Championships

In an absorbing day of cricket, with fortunes see-sawing at various times, a final flourish from the Belizean bowlers saw the hosts deny a committed Mexican challenge to win by 78 runs, and thus also win the first Central American Cricket

25-Feb-2013

It was an interesting and entertaining three days of cricket in Belize, and with plans already in place to play the second Central American Championship in Mexico in 2007, the success of the event, and the positive spin-offs it will no doubt provide for cricket development in the Central American region, seem assured.

Afghans rout MCC

Mumbai was the setting for some memorable scenes on Wednesday and there was another notable occasion today

25-Feb-2013

Mumbai was the setting for some memorable scenes on Wednesday and there was another notable occasion today. Hafti Gulabid, a fast bowler from Jalalabad, claimed the prize wicket of Mike Gatting for a duck as an ">Afghanistan side won their first ever match against MCC. Gatting took it all in his stride.

"I got a decent ball. This isn't a game you just go out and play. If you don't have practice you don't do as well as you should."

Questions raised over quality of Bermuda's soil

The quality of the soil used in Bermuda's pitches is being tested to ensure it meets the standards of international cricket :

The quality of the soil used in Bermuda's pitches is being tested to ensure it meets the standards of international cricket:

25-Feb-2013

In November West Indies cricket legend Lance Gibbs stated that in order for Bermuda’s cricket to advance the Island needed to improve the quality of its soil. His comments echoed International Cricket Council high performance development manager Richard Done, who visited the Island earlier in 2005.

[...]

On Monday, Director of Youth Sport and Recreation, Anthony Roberts, said soil samples were currently being assessed overseas. “None of the soil samples have proved to have acceptable properties for ICC wicket standards,” he said. “We are in discussions with the ICC. We are experimenting with the samples mixing substances with them to see if it could strengthen the soil.”

Canada's Caribbean connection

Canada will be travelling to the Caribbean for the World Cup next year, but it will be a home from home for quite a few of a squad built aroiund ex-pats

Canada will be travelling to the Caribbean for the World Cup next year, but it will be a home from home for quite a few of a squad built aroiund ex-pats. The Stabroek News in Guyana reports on how five locals have been named in the 40-man squad.

25-Feb-2013

"Thirteen of the players on the current Canadian squad were born in the West Indies and moved to Canada, or were born in Canada to West Indian parents, the Canadian team's Trinidad-born manager and senior coordinator Mike Henry pointed out. They originated in Guyana, Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua, and St Kitts-Nevis. At least five are from Guyana, or have a Guyanese parent."

Nepal announce squad for clash against Namibia

Nepal have announced their squad for the Intercontinental Cup playoff against Namibia, to be held in Windhoek from March 23-26.

Nepal have announced their squad for the Intercontinental Cup playoff against Namibia, to be held in Windhoek from March 23-26.

25-Feb-2013

Aamir Akhtar and U-19 hero Basant Regmi are two new faces in the national team while off-spinner Sanjam Regmi, U-19 vice captain Paras Khadka and pacer Avaya Rana missed the national squad. Paras chose to opt out of the team for his studies. All-rounder Aamir, who played for Nepal in 2000 U-19 Cricket World Cup has been playing professional cricket in England and Scotland.

Binod Das has been retained as captain while Shakti Gauchan made to the team despite eye injury sustained by a raising delivery from Dhirendra Chand during practice threatening his position. Dhirendra, opener Paresh Lohani, U-19 captain Kanishka Chaugai, leg-spinner Raj Kumar Pradhan, Sharad Vesawkar, Gyanendra Malla, wicket-keeper Manoj Katuwal and Raju Basnet are all named for the team.

For more info, see Nepalcricket.com

The state of Afgani cricket

25-Feb-2013

The Pajhwok Afjhan News reports that the lack of proper playing areas, and pitches, is the main impediment for the promotion of cricket in Afghanistan. This problem is dramatically highlighted in the picture on the right (click here to see the full-size version, and here for another photo), where a group of cricket fans can be seen playing a game on a concrete wasteland, in front of a destroyed helicopter.

The newspaper continues:

Irish cricket cashes in on England tie

The rush to grab tickets for England's encounter against Ireland has started, with £100,000 raised from ticket sales - even before they've gone on sale

The rush to grab tickets for England's encounter against Ireland has started, with £100,000 raised from ticket sales - even before they've gone on sale. 2,900 tickets remain to be sold, priced between £20 and £35 pounds.

25-Feb-2013

The capacity at Stormont on Tuesday June 13 will be 6,200, the biggest audience for a cricket match in Ireland, and there will also be room for 800 schoolchildren and a hospitality tent accommodating a further 500.

More information can be found at Newsletter and a previous article on Cricinfo.

Oman Cricket Club Academy opens its doors

The Oman Cricket Club Academy launches today:

The Oman Cricket Club Academy launches today:

25-Feb-2013

The launch of the academy was delayed by a few weeks due to the annual examinations at the various schools. Several qualified coaches including Omani nationals will be attached to the academy to carry out the coaching functions and each one of them will be assigned days/times during each week.

Rajinder Singh Rawat, an ACC Level II coach who was the assistant coach of the Oman senior team on the tour to the Republic of Ireland for the ICC Trophy 2005 during June-July 2005, will supervise the various functions related to coaching.

More info at the Times of Oman