Beyond the Test World
Malaysian cricket hit by slew of resignations
The deputy president of the troubled Malaysian Cricket Association, Datuk Dr Amarjit Singh, has resigned, citing time constraints as the reason for his decision.
Liam Brickhill
25-Feb-2013
The deputy president of the troubled Malaysian Cricket Association, Datuk Dr Amarjit Singh, has resigned, citing time constraints as the reason for his decision.
"There is no need to say anything more nor do I want to hurt anybody. I have come to a decision to resign and that's it," Dr Amarjit told Bernama, the Malaysian National News Agency.
His resignation is a major setback for the MCA, which is in the midst of a slew of resignations, and has yet to find replacements for the two vice-presidential posts left vacant after Mahindra Vallipuran’s resignation and the death of Affendi Tuan Stephens last year. The association is reportedly also in financial difficulties.
"But I hope the president will take a serious look at the situation and fill up the vacancies, including that of ordinary member Gopal Sreenavasan who has also resigned,” added Dr Amarjit, who runs a clinic in Kuala Lumpur and was also the chairman of the MCA development committee. "If not, it's only fair that a re-election be called soon."
Full postSeychelles sole applicant for Affiliate membership
Tony Munro
Judhajit
25-Feb-2013
Tony Munro
As a sign of the times, Seychelles will be the only applicant for Affiliate membership of the ICC in 2010. The ICC had introduced a little-known stipulation in 2008 stating that all new applicants for Affiliate membership must have a minimum of eight men's teams, effectively ensuring that the applications would come from countries where the game had consolidated.
Existing members were told that they had until June 2010 to meet the criteria. Those who did not, would be given a further 12 months to conform before their membership might be reviewed.
Seychelles has 10 teams including women's and veteran's teams. Eight men's teams contest several short-term competitions based around the capital, Victoria, on the main island of Mahe.
Full postICC belatedly investigates Nepal riot
The ICC has agreed to demands from Singapore that it look into events surrounding the ICC World Cricket League Division 5 match between Nepal and USA in Kirtipur which was marred by serious crowd trouble .
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
The ICC has agreed to demands from Singapore that it look into events surrounding the ICC World Cricket League Division 5 match between Nepal and USA in Kirtipur which was marred by serious crowd trouble.
Singapore argue that Nepal only qualified for the final and so gained promotion as a result of the disruption. Until the stoppage, Singapore looked set to edge them out on net run-rate, but, so they argue, the revised target agreed by the ICC technical committee altered the equation in Nepal’s favour and they edged through by 0.0035.
The ICC, who dismissed initial complaints, belatedly decided to look into the complaint, which centres on the decisions of the technical committee. Nevertheless, it seems bewildering an immediate investigation was not launched into the riot itself.
It may help Singapore’s efforts that Imran Khwaja, chairman of the Singapore Cricket Association, is one the ICC executive committee, although insider said there was little chance of the ICC reversing the technical committee’s decision. “They will do what they always do in this kind of situation – nothing.”
Full postUS professionalism to start in 2010
Don Lockerbie, the chief executive of the USA Cricket Association, has said that plans for the professionalisation of the game in the United States was on track to begin later this year.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Don Lockerbie, the chief executive of the USA Cricket Association, has said that plans for the professionalisation of the game in the United States was on track to begin later this year.
“We’re fast approaching the ability to feel comfortable with some of the initiatives that we’ve put in place and some of the financial planning that we’re putting in place and can soon announce,” he told dreamcricket.com. “We’re adding staff to my office which would include hiring a national director of coaching, an assistant coaching staff, kind of retooling the way we select players throughout the country. We’d be looking at a regional coaching staff around the country that we’d want to incentivise with paid positions.
“I think that a lot of people know that my strategy all along has been to start at the national team level and work our way down because I believe that club cricket and regional cricket is healthy. Certainly, they can always use more funding and more facilities and more initiatives and we’ll get that to them in the near future, but the first thing to do in my opinion is to meet the mandate of the ICC and the mandate of the ICC is to make sure that we’re developing professional cricket teams that can make it to World Cups.”
The perennial problem for USACA has been money as the funding it receives from the ICC is no bigger because of the size of the country. “I think the stakeholders of US cricket will soon find that there will be funding for all areas of US cricket,” Lockerbie insisted, without going into specifics. “The goal is to make noise and noteworthy headlines at the national and international level so that the funding can come in so that there are broadcasters and sponsors and investors who want to be part of US cricket and so that it then makes its way throughout all spectres and spectrums of US cricket.”
Full postDevelopment Programme awards announced
The winners of the ICC’s Development Programme Annual Awards have been announced, with individuals and initiatives from associate and affiliate member countries from around the world being honoured.
Liam Brickhill
25-Feb-2013
The winners of the ICC’s Development Programme Annual Awards have been announced, with individuals and initiatives from associate and affiliate member countries from around the world being honoured.
While Nepal celebrate their victory in the final of the World Cricket League Division 5, Binaya Raj Pandey, president of the Cricket Association of Nepal, received the programme’s Lifetime Service award. Namibia’s cricket development programme won Best Overall Cricket Development Programme, while the Deutsche Cricket Bund picked up the Best Women’s Cricket Initiative award.
The Israel Cricket Association won the Best Spirit of Cricket Initiative for their programme, in partnership with UNAIDS and UNICEF, which has introduced cricket as a means of bringing together Jewish and Bedouin children in the Negev Desert to promote co-existence and tolerance among those caught up in the Israel-Arab conflict.
“It is wonderful to see so many of our Associates and Affiliates being recognised for all the hard work and effort they put into their cricket programmes,” said ICC global development manager Matthew Kennedy. “Everyone who has won and those who were not successful this time round should be congratulated for their continuing effort and dedication to improving cricket in their nation.”
Full postCause for hope in Kenya
There is a renewed mood of optimism in the Kenya cricket camp following their five-wicket victory over the Netherlands last week.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
There is a renewed mood of optimism in the Kenya cricket camp following their five-wicket victory over the Netherlands last week.
Although it is still unlikely that the result will give Kenya passage to the Intercontinental Cup final in Dubai in November, it is proof that the sterner regime inaugurated by coach Eldine Baptiste is beginning to pay off. Cricketers can now go around with a smile on their faces following a crucial win in which all departments performed well, although the fielding is in desperate need of some tidying up.
The game was all the talk in Nairobi cricketing circles at the weekend when Kongonis, who are a main arm in the development of the game in the country, held their annual Chairman's XI v Patron's XI fixture at Nairobi Club. There the match, which included national assistant coach Martin Suji appearing for the Chairman's XI, was watched by more people than had been at most of the international fixtures at Gymkhana.
That fact must be a worry for Cricket Kenya (CK), although the despondency that fell upon the country after the withdrawal by the ICC of the Under-19 World Cup in January has been partly sloughed off. Nonetheless, this set a pall over Kenya's cricket-loving fraternity and the various agencies associated with it, such as the tourism sector, for several months.
Full postThoughts turn to Italy
Lennox Cush
Andrew McGlashan
25-Feb-2013
Lennox Cush
I’ve never had the chance to go to Italy and now - if selected - I’ll be heading off there this summer for Division 4.
Today was kind of bitter-sweet for us as although we’d already qualified for the next division, with an epic match yesterday, we still wanted to come out and win against Nepal again today.
Looking at yesterday’s match against Nepal, I think it was an excellent game. We executed our plans beautifully and our opening bowler Darlington and Shuja did really well and prior to the game the coach had asked the openers to get at least three wickets in the first 10 overs and they’d done in this game. Coach asked and they provided.
Full post'Biggest achievement for Nepal' - Khadka
Paras Khadka
Andrew McGlashan
25-Feb-2013
Paras Khadka
I think today was the biggest achievement for Nepal cricket in the history of the game here. We’ve never won a tournament as a senior team and to win here and qualify for Division 4 is huge.
I was taken aback when USA decided to bat after they won the toss but after they had set a platform they were 150-odd for 2, then Rahul came on and completely changed the match. I think he bowled well to the field, and I think we took our best series of wickets during the Powerplay. I think perhaps the USA tried to slog the ball too much.
Today’s crowd was fantastic and their support really motivated us to do well. After yesterday where some individuals in the crowd had been a disappointment in their behaviour today’s set an example of what true Nepalese cricket fans should be.
Full postRazak receives official reprimand
Singapore's Mohamed Shoib Abdul Razak has received an official reprimand for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during his country's match against United States of America in the World Cricket League Division 5 on Wednesday.
Liam Brickhill
25-Feb-2013
Singapore's Mohamed Shoib Abdul Razak has received an official reprimand for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during his country's match against United States of America in the World Cricket League Division 5 on Wednesday.
The charge was brought by the two on-field umpires, Tyron Wijewardene and Buddhi Pradham, at the conclusion of the match, which Singapore won by 99 runs. Razak was found to have breached Section 12 Article 2.1.3 of the ICC Code, which relates to 'showing dissent at an umpire's decision'.
He pleaded guilty to the charge and accepted the penalty imposed by Match Referee David Jukes without the need to convene a disciplinary hearing. "Heat of the moment or not, there is no place for this sort of behaviour in international cricket. Mr Razak has apologised for his actions and I hope that we will not see a recurrence," said Jukes.
Full postAfghan cricketers return to heroes' welcome
A triumphant Afghanistan team returned home to a joyous welcome from hundreds of fans after securing a place at the World Twenty20 tournament in West Indies
Liam Brickhill
25-Feb-2013
A triumphant Afghanistan team returned home to a joyous welcome from hundreds of fans after securing a place at the World Twenty20 tournament in West Indies. A large crowd of supporters at Kabul's airport waved the national flag and sang patriotic songs to greet the team on their arrival, AFP reported.
"Our national cricket team returns home today and we have come to show them our appreciation for their achievement and to further encourage them," said Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal, finance minister and Afghan Cricket Board chairman.
After wins over Ireland, Scotland and USA in the group stages of the Qualifiers in Dubai, Afghanistan held their nerve to beat UAE in a low-scoring semi-final to be sure of admission to their first major tournament.
"Certainly it was a dream of all the players and the Afghan people, and God fulfilled it," captain Nowroz Mangal said of their winning streak at the Qualifiers.
Full post