Beyond the Test World
ICC gives Scotland eligibility boost
Cricket Scotland received a major boost at the ICC AGM with the decision that players not born in the country could nevertheless be eligible to play for them.
Cricinfo
25-Feb-2013
Cricket Scotland received a major boost at the ICC AGM with the decision that players not born in the country could nevertheless be eligible to play for them.
As Scotland does not issue its own passports, and the British passport is not accepted as it covers numerous ICC members, players who have Scottish born parents but were themselves born outside of Scotland were not eligible unless they moved to Scotland for a four year qualification period.
''We are obviously delighted by today's ICC decisions,” said cricket Scotland CEO Roddy Smith. ''The issue has been a prominent one for a number of years and we welcome the decision to allow players with Scottish parentage to be able to apply to the ICC for exceptional circumstances.
"As the Scottish passport does not exist, and parentage is not a recognised criterion , it has meant that many potential players who have one or both parents born in Scotland have been ineligible to play if they were born outside the country. Cricket was almost unique in Scottish sport by being unable to select such players.''
Full postIPL matches against Associates and Affiliates a non starter
The Indian board may have given the go-ahead to the Indian Premier League franchises to play with the Associate and Affiliate countries, but the matches will most likely remain non-starters according to reports in the Indian media.
Cricinfo
25-Feb-2013
The Indian board may have given the go-ahead to the Indian Premier League franchises to play with the Associate and Affiliate countries, but the matches will most likely remain non-starters according to reports in the Indian media.
None of the teams is likely to play with any country this year. The franchises and associate countries claim there is not enough time to organise the games, but the real reasons go beyond that.
The BCCI has given the franchises time up to August 31 to play a maximum of three matches.
The franchises explored options of setting up games against countries such as Scotland, Ireland, Canada, USA and UAE, but nothing seems to have worked out. “This year it is not possible. The time is too short,” said a franchise official.
Full postSquads named for three-team ICC European Division 3 Championship
With just Estonia, Bulgaria and Slovenia participating in this year’s ICC European Division 3 Championship, the format will comprise of a double round-robin with each team playing each other twice.
Cricinfo
25-Feb-2013
With just Estonia, Bulgaria and Slovenia participating in this year’s ICC European Division 3 Championship, the format will comprise of a double round-robin with each team playing each other twice.
The tournament will bring European cricket to Tallinn for the first time, with matches being played at the city’s Hipodroom ground between June 14 and 16 and a place in the ICC European Division 2 Championship at stake in Corfu in September.
Having finished second behind Sweden in last year’s Division 3 event, Estonia will be keen to confirm their position by taking the title this time. Led by Tim Heath, who made the only century of the 2011 tournament, the Estonians will have nine of that squad in their ranks, having added Remo Raud, Mario Tammoja (who joins his brother Mart in the side), Michael Tiffin and Karel van Buuren.
Slovenia, third last year and bidding to regain their position ahead of their rivals, also make four changes to their squad, with the return of Grega Bohinc and the addition of Chris Bishop, Matthew Charlesworth and Nilesh Ujawe. They will be skippered by Mark Oman, and like Estonia they will have five locally-born players in the side.
Full postNairobi security issues forces matches to Mombasa
The venue of Kenya’s Intercontinental Cup match against Namibia has been shifted from Namibia to Mombasa after the ICC flagged ongoing security worries with playing in the capital.
Cricinfo
25-Feb-2013
The venue of Kenya’s Intercontinental Cup match against Namibia has been shifted from Namibia to Mombasa after the ICC flagged ongoing security worries with playing in the capital.
The four-day match and two 50-over games were postponed from June to late September because of "delays related to the ongoing and changing security assessment for Kenya in general and Nairobi in particular".
Full postSame old wall of silence from USACA
It is almost two months since the USA Cricket Association’s elections – enough has been said about those and the rows about the way they were conducted crumbles on – but, true to form, USACA has resumed the complete media shutdown which has been its
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
It is almost two months since the USA Cricket Association’s elections – enough has been said about those and the rows about the way they were conducted crumbles on – but, true to form, USACA has resumed the complete media shutdown which has been its hallmark for a number of years.
Any hopes the new regime – well, the old regime but with a mandate – would be more open have been forlorn. The association’s website is close to being moribund and no officials seem willing to break cover.
And new secretary Kenwyn Williams, whose views he himself liberally distributed in the run-up to the elections, made clear the way things would be on the eve of the vote.
“I am going to be in charge of public relations and any and all information coming out of USACA will be coming from my desk,” he said. “No reporter with a past of writing biased articles without fair rebuttal will be allowed to speak to any USACA player, coach, manager or administrator without my clearance and permission.”
Full postDhoni to pay flying visit to Nepal
Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni will visit Nepal for a day on June 15 and interact with Nepali cricketers for a couple of hours at the TU Cricket Ground, according to Nepal Cricket.
Cricinfo
25-Feb-2013
Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni will visit Nepal for a day on June 15 and interact with Nepali cricketers for a couple of hours at the TU Cricket Ground, according to Nepal Cricket.
“It is subject to confirmation but it’s true that Dhoni is arriving for a day,” a spokesman for the Indian embassy said. “Nepal is the home of some of the most passionate cricket fans and many people love watching Indian cricket. There have been constant requests from various fraternities to bring in Indian cricketers to Kathmandu. So we’ve decided to invite Dhoni and he happily accepted it,”
Full postMaldives benefit from Pakistan's generosity
Pakistan has donated cricket equipment to Maldives to promote the sport on the island.
Cricinfo
25-Feb-2013
Pakistan has donated cricket equipment to Maldives to promote the sport on the island.
Pakistani foreign secretary presented the cricketing gear to the Maldivian Cricket Board in an expression of support to cricket in the Maldives.
The Pakistan foreign secretary had assured the country's continued support to Maldivian citizens in fields of academics, training and sports.
Full postKenya's ghosts from the past
The court case resulting from disgraced former CEO Tom Tikolo’s bid to have Cricket Kenya’s delayed has been postponed, leaving the game in a state of ongoing limbo
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
The court case resulting from disgraced former CEO Tom Tikolo’s bid to have Cricket Kenya’s delayed has been postponed, leaving the game in a state of ongoing limbo. It was supposed to be heard on May 31 but no judges were available.
The re-emergence of Tikolo, who was booted out in 2010 after stealing from the board, was a surprise to many, as was his appearance at a press conference alongside Jimmy Rayani, a figure associated with the old and discredited Kenyan Cricket Association.
With Jackie Janmohamed, another KCA official, also back in the fray within the Nairobi Provincial Cricket Association, there are those who fear the old guard who were involved in the running of the game in the Sharad Ghai era are looking to work their way back.
Given the state the KCA was in when Ghai was finally slung out in 2005 – and its reputation both at home and internationally - it can only be a backward step if those figures from the past have any involvement in Kenyan cricket going forward.
Full postUganda shake things up after poor performances
The Ugandan Cricket Association is undertaking a backroom shake-up following the team’s poor performances in the ICC World Cricket League and ICC T20 World Cup Qualifiers.
Cricinfo
25-Feb-2013
The Ugandan Cricket Association is undertaking a backroom shake-up following the team’s poor performances in the ICC World Cricket League and ICC T20 World Cup Qualifiers.
Coach Martin Suji and team manager Henry Okecho will be joined by an expanded technical team which will include coaches for bowling, batting and fielding, a fitness coach and a psychologist to boost the team’s all-round preparations.
The move follows the council and all other stakeholders’ recommendations that more backroom staff were needed if Uganda’s performance is to improve.
“We are looking around and we will come up with a big announcement soon. What I can assure you is that we also saw that Suji needed more help and we will have staff in other departments for the sake of having a well prepared and motivated team,” chief executive Justin Ligyalingi said.
Full postAfghanistan look for associate status
The Afghanistan Cricket Board is positioning itself for an assault on ICC Associate Status
Cricinfo
25-Feb-2013
The Afghanistan Cricket Board is positioning itself for an assault on ICC Associate Status. Their application to rise from Affiliate to Associate is on the Annual Conference agenda in Kuala Lumpur next month. Grounds have been built, competitions have been streamlined, finances have been shaped and May saw the return of their CEO Hamid Shinwari after a period studying for an MBA in Australia. Current acting CEO Nasim Danish will continue as his deputy.
Shinwari first became ACB CEO shortly after Afghanistan's appearance in 2010's ICC World Twenty20 and remained in the position until early 2011.
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