A long way from home

The number of people actively participating in cricket outside the Test-playing countries increased 17% in 2007, according to the ICC.

Next week's ICC annual get-together promises to have more than its fair share of politicking, posturing and controversy

Bahrain built on Azeem-ul-Haq's 79 and some telling contributions from the lower order to amass 335, before skittling out Saudi Arabia for just 137 in their crushing 198-run win at the Selangor Turf Club

Bahrain got into their stride in preparation for their Division 7 World Cup 2015 qualifiers in Guernsey, beating an Isle of Wight XI by 131 runs at Newclose, Isle of Wight, on Wednesday.

The opening day of the ICC World Cricket League Division 7 tournament in Guernsey was almost entirely washed out by persistent rain.

Bahrain sealed their place in the World Cricket League Division 6 in Singapore after a comfortable 196-run over Japan in Port Soif

Qamer Saeed's five-wicket haul and well-paced half-century helped Bahrain defeat Guernsey by three wickets in the final of the ICC World Cricket League Division 7

Six teams start their next step towards the 2015 World Cup on Saturday, as the ICC World Cricket League Division 6 gets underway in Singapore