ICC Cricket Week: Development Program

In recognition of the rapidly changing times where communication technology and international brand marketing has reinforced the concept of the global village, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has embarked on a significant initiative of developing cricket on a world-wide basis.

In 1998, the ICC Development Program was launched to raise awareness, promote participation, and improve the standard of cricket in non-Test playing countries; broadening cricket's historically narrow base.

The Development Program, which currently embraces 46 countries (Associate and Affiliate Members), specifically aims to increase the number of countries playing cricket, and increase participation within each country. In addition to this, it aims to enhance the development of non-Test playing countries, concentrating initially on assisting emerging nations in their transition to One-day International (ODI) level.

The Development Program is funded through the staging of the ICC Knockout, a biennial cricket tournament involving ODI countries. The first ICC Knockout tournament was held in Bangladesh in October 1998. The year 2000 Knockout is scheduled to be held in Kenya from 3-15 October and will involve 11 countries, including Kenya and Bangladesh.

A full-time Cricket Development Officer is based in each of the five development regions - Africa, The Americas, Asia, East Asia- Pacific, and Europe. Their roles relate principally to the delivery of facilities and equipment, and provision of coach, umpire, and administrator programs to Associate and Affiliate Members, and New Territories within each region. In addition to this, the Cricket Development Officers are responsible for the organisation of regional tournaments that act as Under 19 and World Cup qualifying tournaments.

Several non-Test cricketing nations have been identified for fasttrack development namely; Bangladesh, Kenya, Denmark, Holland, Ireland, and Scotland. As a means of assisting these and other Associate Member countries achieve ODI status, the Development Program provides resources in the form of scholarships for cricket academy programs, 'A' Team tours, and specialist coaching programs.

In overall terms, Cricket Week presents an ideal opportunity to raise the profile of cricket, especially in new and emerging nations. The creation of video resources and establishment of a Cricket Ambassadors Program provides tangible benefits to assist the ICC in its pursuit of globalising the sport.