Development - Beyond the Test World

ICC Executive Committee Meeting round up

The Netherlands to make their ICC Knockout debut next year and the possibility of a television programme to aid development - these are among the major decisions affecting non-Test countries to come out of last month's ICC Executive Committee meeting

Tony Munro

The Netherlands to make their ICC Knockout debut next year and the possibility of a television programme to aid development - these are among the major decisions affecting non-Test countries to come out of last month's ICC Executive Committee meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

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The World League proposal, the 2001 and 2005 ICC Trophies, ODI status and the future of East and West Africa were among the other issues discussed in a meeting important to non-Test cricket which have not already appeared in the media.

The Netherlands will become the first non-Full or ODI status country to be included in cricket's second most important tournament, after the World Cup, when it is staged in India next year.

'Beyond The Test World' understands officials will evaluate the success of the revised 12 team round robin format used in 2002 before deciding whether to include Associate countries in future editions of the newly renamed ICC Champions Trophy.

Approval was given for a weekly television programme to be produced by the World Sports Group and to be used as a development tool. Amongst the aims of the programme would be to highlight cricket as a top class spectator sport and educate those new to the game on its finer points.

A proposal for a World League of three divisions of Associate countries (First and Second Divisions comprising six teams, the Third Division comprising eight) is expected to be discussed in further talks between ICC and Associate officials this month.

As expected, to reduce costs, the two divisions of the 2005 ICC Trophy will be staged at separate venues.

The long term future of both East and West Africa is presently under consideration with individual countries possibly being given the option of seeking either Associate or Affiliate membership of the ICC.

Individual countries only, rather than composite teams such as the Americas combination, will compete in future under 19 World Cups.

ICC Management will refine criteria in two key areas:

  • Associate and Affiliate membership
  • ODI status, with holders having automatic entry to the World Cup, but not the Under 19 World Cup

    • In response to issues arising from the ICC Trophy:

  • Future host nations for all events to comply to entry requirements for all participating teams
  • New rules will be drafted to allow members to be fined for future default

    • In other news:

  • A Qualifications Committee will be established, with the ICC President in consultation with the ICC Chief Executive Officer appointing members. The Committee will consist of the Chief Executive (or his nominee) as Chairman, 1 committee member representing the Full Members, 1 committee member representing the Associate Members, and I committee member representing the Affiliate members. It will make its recommendation to the Executive Board in March/April 2002 for the rules to be put before the Annual Conference in June, 2002
  • The ICC Global Ambassador Program to be discontinued
  • The ICC Cricket Week concept to be discarded, Regions can conduct their own Cricket Week if they so wish