ICC to oversee CEO appointment in USA

As part of its continued commitment to developing cricket around the world, the International Cricket Council today announced that it will be working with the United States Cricket Association, a volunteer organisation, to appoint a national Chief Executive Officer for cricket in the USA.

The CEO's primary initial task will be to try to secure the support of ICC Full Member nations to participate in a One-Day International cricket tournament in the USA and to arrange the staging of any such event there.

This is the first step of a special project targeted at increasing the profile of the sport and participation levels in the USA. Any income from international events staged in the USA will pave the way for investment in appropriate professional staffing, coach education, schools programmes, facility developments and competition structures.

ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed explained that the plans were focused on developing cricket as a successful niche sport in a substantial market.

"There is no suggestion that cricket is trying to take on the major American team sports in their own back yard," said Mr Speed.

"There are already over 500 active cricket clubs in the USA and the aim of this project is to build on this solid foundation to help increase the reach of the sport."

The project was given the support of the ICC's Executive Board in October 2003 and a search for a suitable candidate will begin shortly.

The CEO will report to a sub-committee comprising representatives from the ICC, the West Indies Cricket Board and the USACA and the position will initially be underwritten by the ICC.

The decision to undertake this project was made before the USA won the recent ICC Six Nations Challenge for the top Associate Member countries in the United Arab Emirates. The USA's victory earned them qualification for the ICC Champions Trophy 2004 in England in September.

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