Beyond the Test World
Swamibapa favourites to take NPCA title
Swamibapa are within one game of securing their first NPCA Super League title in six years, and in so doing end Kanbis A’s five-year domination of the tournament, after the penultimate round of matches
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Swamibapa are within one game of securing their first NPCA Super League title in six years, and in so doing end Kanbis A’s five-year domination of the tournament, after the penultimate round of matches. Both teams won their games at the weekend, with Swamibapa needing only to take full bonus points against third placed Stray Lions A to be assured of winning the league.
Swamibapa crushed SCLYL by eight wickets after bowling them out for 72, but Kanbis A were forced to work harder for their seven-wicket win over Sir Ali A. Chasing 212, Rakeb Patel (78) and Alpesh Bhudia (68) guided them home
Stray Lions A, who can still overtake Kanbis A to take the runners-up slot, were left on the sidelines as their match with Kanbis B was abandoned.
Full postCricket Canada in crisis after loss of major sponsor
Struggling Cricket Canada has been dealt a major blow with the news that Scotiabank, its main sponsor, has terminated its three-year contract early because of what it claims is “unsatisfactory performance” by the board.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Struggling Cricket Canada has been dealt a major blow with the news that Scotiabank, its main sponsor, has terminated its three-year contract early because of what it claims is “unsatisfactory performance” by the board.
The deal is coming to the end of its first year and while on the field Canada’s performances have been improving, the conduct of the board continues to cause concern. A letter from Scotiabank to recently-appointed CEO Chandra Gocool did not deal in specifics, merely stating that the decision had been made “after careful review and analysis of the cost/benefit, the various program deliverables” and also a review of the board’s “internal/public challenges, and its future direction”.
Although Scotiabank will honour the first year of the contract in full, the second and third years were worth around US$500,000. Given the withdrawal of such a high-profile sponsor and the well-documented problems within Canadian cricket’s administration, it will prove hard to find a replacement, certainly in the short term.
One source was quoted in the media as warning the loss of Scotiabank would seriously impact on all levels of cricket, from the national team right through to the grass-roots game.
Full postNigeria's exciting domestic calendar
The Nigerian season kicked off on November 1 with the traditional match between the winners of the National Club Championships, Ibejju Lekki, who clinched the title for the second year running, and a Nigeria Cricket Federation Select XI at the Tafewa
Judhajit
25-Feb-2013
The Nigerian season kicked off on November 1 with the traditional match between the winners of the National Club Championships, Ibejju Lekki, who clinched the title for the second year running, and a Nigeria Cricket Federation Select XI at the Tafewa Balewa Square in Lagos. The Lagos League will follow on November 7 where 14 clubs will play in limited-overs style coloured kits and white balls for the first time.
The Lagos League is in fact one of the four leagues in Nigeria. The Edo League, comprising four clubs, is in the south-south region of the country and is also expected to start sometime this month.
The North-West League and the Eastern Leagues are scheduled for early 2010 as they help in picking the regional qualifiers for the National Cricket Club Championships, normally played from April to June. The National Cricket Club Championships finals would also be played in coloured clothing and white balls.
Another important step in the development of the game in the country is the second National Secondary Schools Championships sponsored by DUFIL Prima. The tournament is expected to start in November-December with the finals slated for April. Sixty schools participated in the 2008-09 pioneer edition.
Full postNamibia performance pleases coach
Tony Munro
Tony Munro
25-Feb-2013
Tony Munro
Coming into the 2009-10 CSA Provincial Three-Day Challenge, Namibia coach Johan Rudolph's main priority was that the batsmen score hundreds and spend time at the crease. And after just three games, they have exceeded Rudolph's expectations.
"Last season we scored only two hundreds in the competition," said Rudolph. "This season, the players have bettered the statistic in the first three matches, scoring three hundreds (Raymond van Schoor 141, Sarel Burger 125 not out and Craig Williams 123) and one player scoring three nineties (Gerhard Rudolph's 98, 96 & 92)."
There was further excitement for Rudolph as three hundreds were scored in the opening round of the Namibian domestic MTC 50-over Premier League. "Youngsters scored three hundreds last weekend and if we can get this culture going and do away with high risk cricket in our club setup, I believe we will be on the right track," Rudolph said.
Full postNorth West African Championships postponed
Tony Munro
Tony Munro
25-Feb-2013
Tony Munro
The next North West African Championships have been delayed to April 2010 due to the global financial crisis.
The economic downturn may also see the tournament restricted to its traditional participants, Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria and Sierra Leone, said the president of the Nigeria Cricket Federation, Kwesi Sagoe.
"It is likely that a review of participants would be undertaken given the cost of the event and the relative development standard of each of the North-West African countries. No decision has however been made on this yet," Sagoe told Cricinfo.
Full postSwamibapa close in on NPCA title
Defending champions Kanbis A, who have dominated the NPCA Super League of late, maintained their challenge for a sixth straight title with a one-run victory over rivals Stray Lions A, a result which all but ends Lions own ambitions.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Defending champions Kanbis A, who have dominated the NPCA Super League of late, maintained their challenge for a sixth straight title with a one-run victory over rivals Stray Lions A, a result which all but ends Lions own ambitions.
Swamibapa A, who have a 14-point lead over Kanbis A, crushed fourth-placed Telca by ten wickets, and with two rounds of matches remaining are favourites to win the league.
Full postJeroen Smits quits international cricket
Jeroen Smits, Netherlands' 37-year-old captain, has announced his retirement from international cricket.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Jeroen Smits, Netherlands' 37-year-old captain, has announced his retirement from international cricket.
An old-style wicketkeeper who could bat a little, he was one of the most dependable members of the 2003 and 2007 World Cup side. In a career which started in 1992, he made 140 appearances for his national side, including 38 full ODIs.
"Of course it's tempting to stay on a little longer," he said, but admitted that with 18 months before the next World Cup, he wanted to give his replacement a chance to find his feet. "It's better that I make room for a new captain and a new keeper, and that the team gets a chance to adjust as it prepares for that challenge."
"He's been a terrific servant of Dutch cricket and an incredible support to me since I came into this role," coach Peter Drinnen told Cricket Europe. "That he's stepping down now is typically unselfish, evidence of the way in which he considers the bigger picture, and a mark of the quality of the guy."
Full postFour countries to make World Cricket League debuts
Tony Munro
Cricinfo
25-Feb-2013
Tony Munro
Cuba, the Falkland Islands and the hosts, Mexico, are among the four countries set to make their official debuts at the World Cricket League Americas Division Four next year.
The other participant will be fellow debutante, Costa Rica in the event tentatively scheduled between May and September.
Cuba were to make an international debut of sorts in the 2008 Stanford 20/20 tournament before an embargo by the US Government blocked their involvement.
Full postMCC whitewash Japan
A strong MCC side completed their tour of Japan with wins in all four matches
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
A strong MCC side completed their tour of Japan with wins in all four matches. They beat Sano CC, a Japanese Development XI and the national side in Twenty20 games, and rounded things off with a tight two-wicket defeat of Japan in a 50-over match.
Japan had every chance to win the limited-overs game after reducing MCC to 60 for 6 chasing 137 but a seventh-wicket stand between Gary Brown (46*) and Guy Bulpitt (26) enabled the tourists to sneak home.
The MCC squad completes the trip with games in Indonesia.
Full postProblems hamper USA preparations
USA's senior and Under-19 teams are scheduled to compete in several major tournaments over the next five months
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
USA's senior and Under-19 teams are scheduled to compete in several major tournaments over the next five months. However, USACA is currently struggling to figure out the best way to prepare them.
USACA is planning on having its National Championship in Fort Lauderdale, Florida from November 13 to 15. The tournament was originally scheduled to take place from October 9 to 11 in Houston, Texas, but officials wanted to move the event to Florida to give players competing for spots on the national teams the opportunity to play on turf pitches, as opposed to the matting wickets used in Houston and around most of the country.
Florida's venues would provide them necessary preparation for when the United States travels to Dubai for the 2010 World Twenty20 Qualifier from February 9 to 13 as well as to Nepal for the World Cricket League Division 5 from February 20 to 27.
The National Championship will pit four regional teams, which qualified through USACA's Eastern and Western Conference tournaments, against each other in 50-over matches on November 13 and 14 to determine the national champion.
Full post