Nasim Ul-Ghani arrives, as Thai season is about to start (21 Dec 1999)

19 December 1999

Nasim Ul-Ghani arrives, as Thai season is about to start

Cricket in Thailand looks set to receive a boost at the start of the 1999/2000 season with the visit in December of International Cricket Council Development Officer, Nasim Ul-Ghani, to help draw a road-map for the development of the game in Thailand.

The ICC has pledged to help develop Thai cricket as part of its worldwide development program, particularly in support of the Thailand Cricket Association's youth development and ground redevelopment schemes.

This month's visit, as the TCA finalises arrangements for the new season of 25 and 50 overs competitions, international tours and six-a-side tournaments beginning in January, should help identify areas of ICC assistance for Thailand.

According to TCA Chairman Ravi Sharma, this season shapes as an important year for cricket in Thailand.

"The TCA has taken critical first step by seeking greater recognition for the sport in Thailand through our approach to the Sports Authority of Thailand to officially recognise the TCA," Mr Sharma said.

"Thai Government recognition will provide us with the political and financial means to work on our broad agenda. This includes to build the strength of youth cricket through the schools, to broaden the game beyond Bangkok to areas such as Phuket, Pattaya, Korat and Chiangmai, and to ensure The Management of the sport in Thailand is more professional and accountable to all teams and players."

"We are also, with ICC help, putting in a new wicket at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) ground at Rangsit, north of Bangkok, which looks set to become the new temporary home of cricket in Thailand as we look at other potential grounds to develop," Mr Sharma said. "The lack of cricket facilities has been a chronic sore for the sport in Thailand over many years."

The TCA had also sought the assistance of the Australian Sports Commission to fund an attachment of an Australian coach to Thailand for much of the 1999-2000 season. This would focus on developing the skills of youth cricketers in Thailand, and to upgrade the skills and knowledge base of local umpires.

Southerners Look for Back-to-Back Crowns

Last year's 50-overs league champions, Southerners, will start the season as clear favourites to retain the premiership.

The Southerners, who romped through the 1998/99 season undefeated, have retained most of their talented core of all-rounders this year, including one of the stars of last season, Rainer Blitz, and pace bowlers James Moss, Karl Malakunas and Prashant.

"We are pretty confident we can be there at finals time again this year," Southerners Manager David Kenwery said this week. "But there are plenty of potential challengers in the league and some new-look sides. We can't afford any complacency this year if we are going to win back-to-back trophies."

One of those main challengers is likely to be the aggressive Young Thai Sikhs Association (YTSA) club. The challenge for YTSA though is to introduce greater discipline into its batting to extend its success into the 50-overs competition.

The Young Thai Sikhs have confidently won the 25-overs league over the past two seasons but have not managed to convert that form into success in the longer version of the limited overs game.

The Thai Indian Sports Club (TISC), the big improvers of last year and semi-finalists in both competitions, will be looking to go one better in 2000 and appear to have enough depth in their squad to do so.

The British Club, Indian Cricket Club (ICC) and Assumption University (ABAC) will on the other hand all be looking to build on disappointing seasons in 1998/99.

The Royal Bangkok Sports Club has decided not to enter the TCA competitions this season.