Zimbabwe 'A' to host tournament for leading Associates (21 Dec 1999)

19 December 1999

Zimbabwe 'A' to host tournament for leading Associates

In the 'Did I Really Say That?' Department, I got my wires crossed somewhat in the report last fortnight on the tournament for Associate countries to be held next March.

Five of the top six Associate Members - Denmark, Ireland, Kenya, Scotland and Netherlands will join Zimbabwe's A team in an ICC sponsored event to be staged in Harare, Zimbabwe.

The six teams will compete in a round robin starting on March 12 before the top two teams play-off in the final on March 18.

Originally, the Kenya Cricket Association was to host it but scheduling problems meant it could only be played in March, which is during the East African rainy season.

The KCA was keen to see a tournament for the stronger Associate countries as a way of improving standards. Of the six highest ranked countries at the last ICC Trophy, only the winner, Bangladesh is missing.

ICC Global Development Officer, Mr. Ross Turner, then arranged ICC funding to ensure the event took place.

2000 will be one of the busiest on record for non-Test cricket, with: January's meeting of Persian Gulf countries in the initial Gulf Cup February's Africa Cricket Association Cup July's European Championships August's first gathering of European non-Test and Associate countries which don't compete in the ECC Trophy October's Asian Cricket Council Trophy The inaugural tournament for non-Test countries in the East Asia-Pacific ICC Development zone, The first ever event for non-Test nations in the ICC Americas region, Plus the usual Triple Crown, West African Championships, East & Central African Championships and Tuanku Ja'afar Cup competitions.

And all of it will be reported in Beyond The Test World, cricket's only dedicated source of news for cricket outside the Test countries.

Excuse me while I take a Bex and a good lie down!