Globalisation - a key to the future (14 October 1998)

14 October 1998

Globalisation - a key to the future

Trevor Chesterfield

CENTURION - On a scale of 10 to one among ICC tournaments and venues the ACC Trophy and Kathmandu would hardly earn grudging acknowledgement among the powerful nine Test countries.

Barely anyone would take notice of such small fry in what has become that very large, expanding lake known as globalisation. Yet even the role the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) plays with the bi-ennial event has found a niche which has drawn a warm nod of approval from Dave Richards, the ICC chief executive, and Dr Ali Bacher, who heads the ICC development committee.

Although, geographically, some of the countries taking part are hardly Asian, it does show there is a fairly loose link under the ICC's global zonal plans for their expansion programme. After all, Japan Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong and Singapore have a clear whiff of the Far East about their culinary expertise than you would find among the more spicy kitchens of the Asian sub-continent.

Then again with such common Thailand names as Colin Devonport, Steve Penny and Allan Wood, the demographics of that nation were fully represented. After all Titsaro Juji (Jaspan) and Mohammad Azharuddin (India), as captains, of their respective countries teams can also claim some sort of common bond.

Yet, the ACC Trophy, the final of which was won by Asia's latest wanna-be Test nation, Bangladesh, has become important to the ICC as is their bid to get the United State involved.

If Richards, is to be believed, countries playing in the Kathmandu tournament have key roles to play in the globalisation policy with which the world body now grappling. It is not just the image which counts, but the after-affects of spreading the game.

So, in the first couple of weeks of October, the ICC have had as big a window at this side of the millennium equation as they are likely to have. Tests and LOIs in Pakistan and Zimbabwe, the United States play in their first West Indies (Red Stripe Bowl) tournament. The ACA (Africa Cricket Association) Zone VI tournament in Windhoek, the ACC Trophy tournament in Nepal, and next week in Dhaka, Bangladesh, the ICC knockout series.

Last month in Canada they had the Sahara Cup involving Pakistan and India: two countries far removed from the North African desert, but let's overlook that small anomaly. It helps keep the expatriates in that part of the world in touch.

In December Chile is to host the South American version of the Coupa d'Americas la Cricket Sportive, cut down to size, that mouthful is better known as the South American Cup. Involving the Argentine, Chile, Peru and Brazil along with the Belize

What is interesting is that only two South American countries, the Argentine and Belize, have any ICC recognition while the Maldives, who took part in the ACC tournament, are still considered part of Sri Lanka.

It shows how widespread the game is becoming and the thought that one day China might play the United State in a World Cup final in Toronto is not as far fetched as some would believe.

Source :: Trevor Chesterfield, Pretoria News