Beyond the Test World
Mehta retained as Oman captain for WCQs
Tony Munro:
Judhajit
25-Feb-2013
Tony Munro:
Hemal Mehta, has been retained as Oman captain for the ICC World Cup Qualifers in South Africa in April. The Indian-born allrounder, who bowls slow left arm orthodox, successfully led Oman during their unbeaten run to the ACC Trophy Challenge title in Chiang Mai, Thailand last month, albeit against mediocre opposition.
Oman will field 11 of the squad which qualified for the tournament by finishing second in the World Cricket League Division 2 tournament in November-December 2007.
A notable absentee from the squad for next month is Hemin Desai, who opened the batting and bowling. Desai has left the country and did not play for Oman in the ACC Trophy Challenge.
Full postMCC win all matches in Mozambique
MCC rounded off a successful tour of Mozambique with two victories – against Association of Mozambique Cricket’s (AMC) Chairman’s XI and President’s XI - to give them a 100% record over the six games.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
MCC rounded off a successful tour of Mozambique with two victories – against Association of Mozambique Cricket’s (AMC) Chairman’s XI and President’s XI - to give them a 100% record over the six games.
Batting first on the Valentine’s Day fixture against the AMC Chairman’s XI, MCC constructed a couple of half-century partnerships to reach a total of 197 for 8 in 40 overs, Alex Harris top scoring with 42. Hampson was the pick of the bowlers for the AMC Chairman’s XI, returning figures of 3 for 25.
In reply, the AMC Chairman’s XI were hampered by some more excellent tight bowling from Tom Kopelman who accounted for the top three batsman in taking 3 for 13.
Despite some middle order resistance from Mann (35) and Amir (18), six MCC bowlers took wickets and dismissed their opposition for 104 in 29.3 overs, to win by 93 runs.
The next day, against the AMC President’s XI, MCC went five better to win by 98 runs. Amir Farooque’s 40 got them off to a good start but he received little in the way of support until captain Toby Bailey came to the crease at No. 7, and scored 45.
Full postKenya off to a winning start
Kenya’s preparations in South Africa for the ICC World Cup Qualifiers got off to a good start as they beat Easterns by 76 runs in their opening match at Benoni.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Kenya’s preparations in South Africa for the ICC World Cup Qualifiers got off to a good start as they beat Easterns by 76 runs in their opening match at Benoni.
They need significant contributions from the old guard to help them post 193, Steve Tikolo leading the way with 63 and Kennedy Otieno making 46. Easterns were always off the pace, Peter Ongondo (4 for 26) reducing them to 52 for 5 before Jimmy Kamande (3 for 15) polished off the tail.
Full postSecond resignation rocks Canadian board
Ben Sennik faces some tough questions after the resignation of Mike Kendall as the board’s first vice-president.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Ben Sennik faces some tough questions after the resignation of Mike Kendall as the board’s first vice-president.
Ben Sennik, the chairman, had brushed aside suggestions that Ahuja’s departure came about because of fundamental differences between the two of them, but in a brief statement Kendall made clear that was at the root of his decision.
In a one-paragraph letter to Sennik, he wrote: “Due to consistently substantial difference of opinion, on important policy matters and the direction of Cricket Canada under your leadership, I am hereby resigning … effective immediately.”
Whereas Ahuja has kept below the radar since he left, probably because of contractual obligations, Kendall, who was in a non-paid role, will have no such restrictions, and Sennik now faces some tough questions as to what is really going on behind the scenes.
Full postKola Burger out of World Cup Qualifiers
Six weeks before the start of the ICC World Cup Qualifiers, Namibia have been dealt a major blow after two of their leading players declared themselves unavailable for selection.
Kanishkaa Balachandran
25-Feb-2013
Six weeks before the start of the ICC World Cup Qualifiers, Namibia have been dealt a major blow after two of their leading players declared themselves unavailable for selection.
The tournament not only decides which four Associates will qualify for the 2011 World Cup, but also which six countries will have full ODI status for the next four years. Namibia are considered one of the most likely of those countries without one-day status at the moment to break through in South Africa in April. But they will have to do so without Kola Burger and Stefan Swanepoel.
Swanepoel cited work commitments as his reason for opting out, but the absence of Burger is not as clear, with rumours circulating that he had fallen out with the board. It is reported that he has refused to play since being dropped in January.
Full postHong Kong scale back on CEO plans
The Hong Kong Cricket Association has dropped plans to hire a chief executive and downgraded the post to senior sports administrator after board members baulked at the cost.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
The Hong Kong Cricket Association has dropped plans to hire a chief executive and downgraded the post to senior sports administrator after board members baulked at the cost.
”We are now looking for a senior sports administrator to head up cricket in Hong Kong," said HKCA chairman Darren Tucker after a board meeting. The decision was a personal blow for Tucker who had been attempting to borrow US$125,000 to fund the move.
Some board members found this excessive, particularly during the current global financial crisis, the report said. Tucker said the board decided at an “exciting” monthly meeting on Thursday to hire a sports administrator from within Hong Kong instead.
The position will not be readvertised and the new administrator's salary will be negotiated when applicants are interviewed next week, he added.
Full postSebbaale to fight Uganda elections
Uganda's impressive performances at the ICC World Cricket League in Argentina could help Dr
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Uganda's impressive performances at the ICC World Cricket League in Argentina could help Dr. Kato Sebbaale re-claim his seat as President of the Uganda Cricket Association.
Full postKenya head to South Africa
Kenya’s preparations for April’s ICC World Cup Qualifiers, which got off to a dreadful start with a 5-0 whitewashing by Zimbabwe, continues when they head to South Africa for ten days.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Kenya’s preparations for April’s ICC World Cup Qualifiers, which got off to a dreadful start with a 5-0 whitewashing by Zimbabwe, continues when they head to South Africa for ten days.
The 16-man team will be based in Benoni.
Kenya squad Steve Tikolo (capt), Rajesh Bhudia, Jimmy Kamande, Alex Obanda, Collins Obuya, Nehemiah Odhiambo, Thomas Odoyo, Peter Ongondo, Lameck Onyango, Elijah Otieno, Kennedy Otieno, Maurice Ouma, Rakep Patel, Tony Suji, Hiren Varaiya and Seren Waters.
Full postAfghanistan turn to Miandad for help
Afghanistan have approached the former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad to help them qualify for the 2011 World Cup in the subcontinent
Kanishkaa Balachandran
25-Feb-2013
Afghanistan have approached the former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad to help them qualify for the 2011 World Cup in the subcontinent. The team won the World Cricket League (WCL) Division 3 tournament in Argentina in January and booked their place in the World Cup qualifiers in South Africa this April.
Miandad quit as director general of the Pakistan Cricket Board last month and he's set to go to China in March as a cricket ambassador.
"I have been approached and since I greatly appreciate their rise in international cricket, I will definitely go there and help them get a place in the World Cup," Miandad told AFP. "Pakistan has always supported Afghanistan. Their team practiced in Lahore before they went to Argentina and as a Pakistan cricket official I did what I could do to help them.”
Afghanistan’s rise is remarkable for a war-ravaged nation and it’s no surprise they are a rage among the minnows. Pakistan have played a significant part in their growth, providing them training and equipment, something their own government failed to do. The team, which came together only in 2002, also won Divisions 4 and 5 in the WCL.
Full postIsraeli tennis issue serves as warning to ICC
At the moment the row is limited to tennis, but Dubai's refusal to allow Israeli player Shahar Peer a visa to play in the Dubai WTA event should serve as a warning to the ICC, who moved its headquarters to the UAE in 2005
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
At the moment the row is limited to tennis, but Dubai's refusal to allow Israeli player Shahar Peer a visa to play in the Dubai WTA event should serve as a warning to the ICC, who moved its headquarters to the UAE in 2005. The UAE refuses to recognise Israel and blocks entry to any passport holders from that country.
While Israel are not a major force in the cricket world, they are Associate members. What's more, the ICC and the local authorities have invested huge sums in building state-of-the-art cricket grounds at the Dubai Sports City, and these are due to come into use later this year. The venue will also host the global cricket academy.
It seems likely that the ICC will look to play its more high-profile events at its base, and these would probably include the important Associate events. That would mean that it may face having to relocate tournaments if Israel qualified for them, leading to some serious logistical headaches.
The WTA, which governs women's tennis, are likely to cancel the Dubai event, and the state's aggressive bid to attract major sporting events could stall unless there is some change of policy.
Full post