ICC Development plans (26 October 1998)

26 October 1998

ICC Development plans

By Hasan Saeed

DHAKA, Oct 25: The chairman of the Development Committee of the London-based International Cricket Council (ICC) Ali Bacher said that the first ever knock-out meet among the nine Test-playing nations would now be a bi-annual event to continue raising resources for the ICC's ambitious development plans.

Bacher was present at the Bangabandhu National Stadium during the opening match of the International Cup between New Zealand and Zimbabwe on Saturday. He was seen inspecting the facilities including the press box, after which he expressed his views about the knock-out world Cup and the future plans of the ICC's development and globalisation programme.

The proposed world championship of Test cricket is still under consideration, with the secretary of the New Zealand Cricket Board, Christopher Doig having devised a format whereby all the nine Test-playing countries would play each other on a home and away series over a period of four years. Points would be allotted accordingly, with the two top teams at the end of the "league" stage having to engage in a play-off Test match at a neutral venue. An Asian Test championship has also been proposed by the Asian Cricket Council sometime next year with Dhaka and Sharjah as likely venues.

On the absence of the Bangladesh national side from the "mini" World Cup Bacher said, "we were strongly considering Bangladesh's inclusion, but that would have stretched the tournament further in an already busy international season. Also, Bangladesh would have to emerge as a much stronger side".

Bacher, who is also the president of the United Cricket Board of South africa informed that he had visited Disneyland in USA's Florida state ten days back to further review the feasibility of hosting a tri-angular one-day international tournament next year end.

"We are very keen to introduce international cricket in the USA and Disneyland would serve as an ideal platform. The presence of television networks like ESPN and ABC in that country would also supplement our cause".

The unusually silent Dhaka Stadium area has suddenly become alive and is humming with business activities with the start of the International Cup. 'Souvenir and food'

A good number of vendors and hawkers were seen selling paper-caps score cards. T-shirts, posters of famous cricket personalities, sports-related publications and other souvenirs especially brought out on the occasion.

A young boy selling T-shirts at Tk 60 (for which he received a commission of Tk 5.00) told the press that he sold 90 pieces since afternoon.

Shahel Ahmed, another restaurant owner said that they were selling lunch-packs at Tk 15 and Tk 30 and informed that these sold extremely well.

The ticket black-marketeers - present in large number - didn't quite have a "field day" as most of them failed to clear their stocks for the opening day's match. Some of them even had to opt for a cheap sell-out.

Source :: Dawn (https://dawn.com/)