Canadian cricket development (21 Jun 1999)

21 June 1999

Canadian cricket development

Canada may play India in a one-day 'international' in Toronto on September 9. India will be in town for the five match Sahara Cup series against Pakistan starting on September 11.

It will provide a useful hitout for the Canadians prior to a planned series against Bermuda from August 6-8. If the United States can overcome a splintered administration, it will join Canada and Bermuda to make it a triangular series.

Canadian and Bermudian officials are quite keen to see a continental competition for national teams develop, along the lines of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Trophy, Africa Cup and European Cricket Council (ECC) Trophy tournaments.

However, John Shepherd, the ICC's Development Officer for the Americas, told me earlier this year that he felt the emphasis should be on age tournaments for junior teams.

Long term readers of this column (yes, all three of you), will remember officials from national associations in the Oceania region pleading for the ICC to assist in the formation of tournament for national sides from that area. (Incidentally there may be progress in that area with the ICC's East Asia-Pacific Development Officer, Andrew Eade, now in his role).

The case for continental tournaments would seem clear cut (the main drawbacks possibly being finding the money and players getting time away from work). The two areas that don't have them, the Americas and East Asia-Pacific don't even have regional associations yet.

Should the ICC lead the way here? If you have an opinion, drop me a line on tonymunro@cricinfo.com