ICC development officer visits east asia (10 Jul 1999)

9 July 1999

ICC development officer visits east asia

The ICC's East Asia-Pacific Development Officer, Andrew Eade, is presently touring the region meeting local cricket officials.

Andrew took time before he left to tap out this letter of introduction:

The ICC Development Program is now officially up and running in the East Asia Pacific region. I'm very honoured to have been appointed by the ICC as Development Manager for this region and after two months in the job I'm slowly but surely starting to get an idea of the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.

The East Asia Pacific is a very widespread and culturally diverse region which may explain why it is the last region to come under the global development program. The leading cricket nations in the region are of course Australia and New Zealand, who will work with the ICC in implementing the overall development plan. The goals are quite simply stated - to increase playing numbers and playing standards throughout the region. This may mean introducing a new country to cricket, working with an existing country to get more children and adults playing the game or perhaps helping a country improve the performance of their top teams.

The six established ICC Member Countries within the region are Hong Kong, Papua New Guinea and Fiji (all Associate members) and Vanuatu, Brunei and Japan (all Affiliate Members). There are also many other countries that play some cricket such as Tonga, China and Korea. Part of my job will be to encourage these countries to become part of the ICC family as an officially recognised "New Country" and then to develop towards Affiliate status.

If you are involved in cricket in a country in the East Asia Pacific region then please feel free to contact me to discuss how the ICC can help you develop cricket in your country. One of the more difficult parts of my job is getting in touch with the right people so please don't hesitate to contact me. My contact details are listed below.

I left on July 2 to visit a number of the Asian countries in the region. My three week trip will take me through Brunei, Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong and China. It will be invaluable in letting me meet the people who run the cricket in each country face to face while at the same time observing some of the local playing standards. I understand my first duties in Japan will be to help roll the wicket and umpire in a couple of games!!

If you are curious as to how one comes into a job like this my background is probably as varied as the demands of the job. I'm a New Zealander who has been involved in cricket in one way or another all my life whether it be playing, coaching or managing clubs. In addition I'm was a lawyer in a past life and I've travelled independently through many parts of the world (over 70 countries at last count).

I've got a passion for the game and I'm looking forward to working with people around the East Asia Pacific region who feel the same way. If you get the opportunity to meet me in my travels make sure you come up and introduce yourself.

Andrew Eade
Development Manager
East Asia Pacific
61 3 9653 9935 (phone)
61 3 9653 9911 (fax)
0409 218 883 (mobile)
andrew_eade@acb.com.au