Beyond the Test World

Huge potential for growth in Indonesia

Cricinfo — 2009-11-20T12:41:53+00:00

Tony Munro

Former Surrey left-arm-spinner Keith Medlycott thinks giving Indonesian cricketers exposure to longer forms of cricket and continued coaching would bring huge rewards for the game after leading the Marylebone Cricket Club on a four-game tour of the country last month.

As expected, the MCC won all four games in Jakarta and Bali handsomely between conducting extensive coaching sessions, where Medlycott was struck by the enthusiasm of both children and adults.

"The Indonesian players listened and questioned on every available opportunity and if they can receive these types of tours on a regular basis they will improve at a significant pace," Medlycott told CricInfo.

European programme for 2010 announced

Martin Williamson — 2009-11-20T08:40:34+00:00

The ICC European Development Programme has announced its 2010 tournament schedule which will see a number of European countries participate in an exciting and challenging programme of tournaments during July and August next year.

USA sign partnership with New Zealand

Martin Williamson — 2009-11-18T22:41:14+00:00

The USA Cricket Association has announced an intention to establish a “strategic partnership agreement” with New Zealand Cricket. The proposed partnership covers a variety of activities, ranging from the sharing of coaching and development resources through to the staging of international fixtures involving the two countries.

“We are very positive and excited about the benefits our relationship with NZC can bring to USA cricket,” Don Lockerbie, USACA’s chief executive, said. “USA cricket can learn greatly from the experience and knowledge of NZC, and we believe there are real and significant cricketing benefits and commercial opportunities possible through this partnership.”

“We are looking forward to a long-term partnership with USACA,” added NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan. “Cricket in the United States is at a very exciting stage, and we are enthusiastic about the prospect of helping USACA significantly grow the game in their country. The benefits of cricket becoming more established in the USA are globally significant for the sport.”

Two years ago USACA appeared to have thrown in its lot with neighbours West Indies, but the latter’s internal political and financial problems have made it a less appealing prospect for the ambitious Lockerbie.

Kuwait to host ICC WCL Division 8

Judhajit — 2009-11-18T11:04:43+00:00

The ICC Development Committee has confirmed that the ICC World Cricket League Division 8 will take place in Kuwait.

For the tournament to be held in late 2010, the eight teams will be split into two groups of four, with the finalists gaining promotion to Division 7. Incidentally, the tournament will also be a qualification pathway to the 2015 World Cup.

In addition to Suriname and Gibraltar, the two relegated sides from the World Cricket League Division 7 tournament played in May 2009 in Guernsey, all regions will be represented by one additional team, apart from Asia, who have been allocated two berths based on the strength of the teams' performances in recent ICC World Cricket League events.

The ICC East Asia-Pacific region has already completed its qualifying tournament for the event – the ICC EAP Trophy - with Vanuatu being the top-ranked team outside the World Cricket League rankings, and they will be represent the region in Kuwait.

There are only two Asian countries - Kuwait and Bhutan - participating in the ACC Trophy Elite, who are already part of the ICC World Cricket League structure, and they will be Asia’s representatives at the event.

The other qualifying sides will be determined according to the results of the ICC Africa Division 2, the ICC Americas Division 2 and the ICC European Division 2 tournaments, all of which will be held in the first half of 2010.

Kuwait currently has four turf grounds and has successfully hosted a number of ACC tournaments, including the ACC Under-19 Trophy Elite earlier this year.

Khadka to captain Nepal in ACC Twenty20 Cup

Judhajit — 2009-11-16T14:15:45+00:00

Tony Munro

Allrounder Paras Khadka will be leading Nepal in the Asian Cricket Council Twenty20 Cup to be held in the UAE from November 22-30. In a move, which had been widely anticipated, the 22-year-old replaced Binod Das as captain, ending the latter's four-year tenure.

Khadka, who bats in the middle order and bowls medium pace, was elevated to Nepal's senior team in 2004 after playing a key role in the Under-19 team's successes in the World Cups. He has played 30 international matches for the senior team, scoring 630 runs at 30 and has taken 27 wickets at 16.44.

Nepal's successes at the Under-19 level and the promise of emerging talent led to expectations from the senior team led by Das. However, they were not met, as Nepal lost the semi-finals of several major tournaments last year, including the World Cricket League Division 5 in Jersey and the ACC Trophy in Malaysia.

The team is currently in Delhi playing local selections and they will then depart for the UAE on November 20. Nepal's first match of the tournament is against Malaysia on November 22. They have been placed in Group B - arguably the weaker of the two groups - which also includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman. Group A features Afghanistan, who came fifth at the World Cup Qualifiers this year, reigning ACC Trophy Elite champions Hong Kong, Elite finalists, UAE, Singapore, Saudi Arabia and China.

Nepal will again be coached by former Sri Lanka batsman, Roy Dias.

Squad: Paras Khadka (capt), Binod Das, Dipendra Chaudhary, Paresh Lohani, Sharad Vesawkar, Gyanendra Malla, Shakti Gauchan, Basant Regmi, Amrit Bhattarai, Binod Bhandari, Mahaboob Alam, Naresh Bahadur Budhaayer, Mahesh Kumar Chhetri, Sanjam Regmi; Roy Dias (coach), Manjur Alam Khan (team official), Naresh Kumar Shrestha (manager).

Pakistan invited to Corfu cricket festival

Sahil Dutta — 2009-11-16T09:39:28+00:00

The Hellenic Cricket Federation (HCF), cricket’s governing body in Greece, is to invite Pakistan for a new Twenty20 international cricket festival. The event, which features teams from across the non-Test playing world, will be held in May, June, September and October 2010 in Corfu and the nearby Ionian islands.

“We aim to celebrate the spirit and diversity of cricket by bringing together cricketers across continents, countries and communities,” Nikitas Iosif, the HCF president, told PA.

Pakistan, the Twenty20 World Champions, will be star attractions, though established players will be missing on full international duty.

Cricket was introduced in Corfu in April 1823 when a match was played between the British Navy and the Garrison. The HCF was founded in 1996 when Greece became member of the European Cricket Council and affiliate member of the ICC.

There are now 21 cricket clubs in Greece, 13 of which are based in Corfu. As the standard of cricket has improved, Corfu has become more popular with club sides touring from England and Iosif sees the HCF as pivotal to cricket in the region.

“We have supported, promoted and developed the sport and there is now a lively and active domestic championship within the country. Our national team compete regularly in Europe and is amongst the best teams.”

Sigatoka crush Western Bulldogs in opener

Cricinfo — 2009-11-14T08:55:58+00:00

The Sigatoka Dunes have stamped their mark on the Elite Player League with an impressive performance resulting in a comfortable victory over the Western Bulldogs in the competition’s first match.

The Player of the Match award was shared by the two players who led the Dunes charge to victory: David Kachor scoring an unbeaten century and Lee Waqa claimed 7 for 16.

The Dunes batted in a style expected of players aiming for selection in the national squad. Opener Joji Bulabalavu (30) got the Dunes off to a good start before a 71-run partnership between Patrick Tuidraki and Kachor set the groundwork for a big Dunes total. The pair worked the ball around well during their partnership and regularly turned the strike over to keep the Bulldogs bowlers frustrated.

USA face selection dilemma

Sahil Dutta — 2009-11-13T16:02:10+00:00

When America's most talented players begin play in Fort Lauderdale on Friday for the USA Cricket Association (USACA) National Championship, each one will be full of hope about their team's chances of walking away with the title. They'll also be desperate to impress selectors at the grounds each day because the tournament is also acting as trials for the USA national squad to compete in February's World Twenty20 Qualifier in Dubai and the World Cricket League (WCL) Division Five in Nepal.

For the full story click here.

Fiji launches Elite Premier League

Siddhartha Talya — 2009-11-12T11:34:45+00:00

Fiji will become the latest non-Test country to run a domestic competition for its best players when the Elite Player League commences on Saturday.

The best 39 players from the islands will be placed into three teams - the Suva Capitals, the Sigatoka Dunes and the Western Bulldogs with each team playing four matches according to international ODI rules.

“The aim of the competition is to get the best players playing against each other on a regular basis,” said Cricket Fiji’s High Performance Manager, Steve Jenkin. “That way we will know who has earned their place in the national squad.”

Previously, national team players were spread throughout three or four leagues across the islands, and the better players only played each other at the annual Easter tournament.

Cricket Fiji officials see the League as a means to increase competition for places in the national team.

“If players are hoping to be in the team to Nepal for the World Cricket League Division Five next February, then they will have to perform well in this competition,” said Jenkin. “After all, they need to play well among the best players in Fiji, and this is what this competition is about – the best from Fiji.”

The introduction of the EPL is the latest phase in the growth of Fiji’s tournament structure to support the development of players for international cricket. This will continue later this month with the first Under-19 National Championship Tournament which will be played in November and December in two conferences – the Lau Conference and the Viti Levu Conference.

Afghanistan and China in Asian Twenty20 Cup

Sahil Dutta — 2009-11-12T11:29:58+00:00

Afghanistan will be hoping to build on their success at the World Cup qualifiers © Getty Images

Afghanistan and China will be star attractions in the 12-nation Asian Twenty20 Cup which starts in Dubai on November 22.

Afghanistan surprised the world by finishing among the top six in the 2011 World Cup qualifying tournament to gain one-day international status earlier this year, while China will be making their debut in an Asian Twenty20 event.

The tournament serves as a qualifying round for next year's Asian Games and Mazhar Khan, administrator of Emirates Cricket Board, is hoping it will help expand cricket in Asia. "It's great to have China and Afghanistan in the event and a step forward towards promoting the game in Asia."

Sharjah and Abu Dhabi will host the matches from which the top three teams will join Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka for the 2010 Asian Games held in Guangzhou, China. Twenty20 cricket became an Asian Games sport after it was approved by the Olympic Council of Asia in May, a decision that could bring Twenty20 closer to full Olympic status.

Alongside China and Afghanistan, teams from Oman, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Singapore, Qatar, Hong Kong, Nepal, Saudi Arab, Malaysia and Bahrain will compete in the event which runs until November 30.

Khan believes the Cup will also help Asian teams tune up for the World Twenty20 qualifiers to be held in the UAE in February next year.

"These teams will have some good preparations for the World Twenty20 qualifiers from where two teams will get a place in the third World Twenty20 Cup to be held in the West Indies next year.”

Ryan Watson declines Scotland contract

Sahil Dutta — 2009-11-11T13:03:26+00:00

Ryan Watson, the former Scotland captain, has rejected a full-time contract in favour of employment outside cricket. In an 18-man squad announced on Wednesday, Majid Haq replaced Watson as one of three players to be offered a full-time 12-month deal. Four more players were given six-month contracts.

For the full story click here.

New ground in Tanzania

Martin Williamson — 2009-11-11T09:10:53+00:00

The Tanzania Cricket Association has announced it will be building a new ground in the northern town of Arusha, roughly 400 miles north of Dar-es-Salaam

The ground will have an astroturf/concrete pitch and a pavilion and will be ready for use in February 2010.

A board statement said: “The new ground in place will also give TCA … an opportunity to host regional and other international events at an optional venue in Tanzania.”

New competition launched in Vanuatu

Martin Williamson — 2009-11-11T09:07:20+00:00

The Vanuatu Cricket Association has announced it will stage a new top-tier league starting on November 14.

The President's Summer League, which will have limited-over and Twenty20 format competitions, will consist of four teams (Kingfishers, Hawks, Monarchs and Falcons) with the country’s players evenly spread between them.

This will be the first time that cricket has been played over the summer break in Vanuatu.

ICC announces Intercontinental Shield fixtures

Martin Williamson — 2009-11-10T08:50:26+00:00

The ICC has announced the remaining fixtures in the inaugural Intercontinental Shield, the second tier first-class competition for Associates.

The one remaining match this year sees Namibia host UAE from December 8, and then UAE have a home tie against Uganda starting on January 20. In April Namibia take on Bermuda, in June Bermuda host UAE and next September Uganda are at home to Namibia in the final round-robin match. The final will be played in Dubai between November 25 and 28, 2010.

However, there is little at stake as the ICC has decided that there will be no promotion between the Intercontinental Shield and the senior Intercontinental Cup.

Swamibapa secure Super League title

Martin Williamson — 2009-11-09T14:14:31+00:00

Swamibapa A have won the NPCA Super League title, ending five years of domination by Kanbis A.

Needing only maximum points from their final game, Swamibapa A easily beat Stray Lions A, bowling them out for 108 after setting a target of 216 to win. Kanbis A finished second after a well-fought last-day win over SCLYL.

The problems facing Kenyan cricket were summed up by the newspaper coverage of the final round of games. While Sofapaka secured Kenyan football’s Premier League title in front of 10,000 spectators, and gained a full page of coverage in the Sunday Nation, Swamibapa’s achievement didn’t even warrant a mention.