Maldive Islands season starts

The Maldive Islands cricket season commenced last month, with the start of a two stage league competition in the capital, Male.

The season began with matches between the eight Second Division clubs, who are battling to qualify for a later tournament against the Maldives' two First Division clubs - New Radient and Victory Sports Clubs.

The eight Second Division clubs are Sports Club Elite, Male SC, Eydafushi Zuvaanunge Jamiyya, Club Adventures, Youth SC, OFF FC, Lao SC and United Victory, two of whom will proceed to play New Radient and Victory SC.

SC Elite's Abdulla Rasheed began the series by taking 7-23 off eight overs in his club's 91 run win over Club Adventures.

Team-mate Ali Suzain is expected to be a key player through his wicket-taking ability and quick scoring.

Two foreigners per side are permitted in the First Division, while no foreigners are permitted in the Second Division. This helps contribute to the high rate of indigenous participation.

Cricket is seeking to regain its stature of the early 1970s when it rivalled football in popularity.

Its main problem, ironically in a country famous for the encroachment of the sea upon the land, is access to grounds.

A tournament already completed is a 12-team six-a-side competition in which teams from the Indian, Sri Lankan and Pakistani High Commissions also competed. Although the result is unkown, Victory and New Radient met in the final.

Meanwhile, there is expected to be no problem with the Maldive Islands Cricket Association's application for ICC Affiliate membership at the world governing body's June meeting.

This is despite some late work being done on the Association's constitution.

The Maldives intend to start their Asian Cricket Council Trophy preparations by touring either Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Malaysia or Singapore.

The national squad will start training for the Trophy in the first week of April, bu which time the MICA hopes to have snared an internationally recognised coach.