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 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.”

Comments (25) | Dubai

November 11, 2009

Ryan Watson declines Scotland contract

Posted 1 week, 2 days ago in Scotland

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.

Comments (0) | Scotland

New ground in Tanzania

Posted 1 week, 2 days ago in Tanzania

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.”

Comments (1) | Tanzania

New competition launched in Vanuatu

Posted 1 week, 2 days ago in Vanuatu

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.

Comments (0) | Vanuatu

November 10, 2009

ICC announces Intercontinental Shield fixtures

Posted 1 week, 3 days ago in ICC

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.

Comments (0) | ICC

November 9, 2009

Swamibapa secure Super League title

Posted 1 week, 4 days ago in Kenya

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.

Comments (3) | Kenya

November 6, 2009

Red faces as Uganda fire new CEO

Posted 2 weeks ago in Uganda

Mpeke Muhumuza has been sacked as Uganda Cricket Association (UCA) chief executive just three months into his tenure following what was described as “a failure to meet expectations”.

Given Uganda’s rising profile – many tout them as the rising force in African cricket – the news will be a blow to the standing of the board and questions have to be asked about the appointment in the first place. Muhumuza was picked after a long selection process which involved the UCA and the ICC.

“The first thing we expected him to do was to set targets for the employees and give them job references,” said board chairman Kato Sebbaale. “He’d spent over two months in the office and he had not done anything about this. If he failed in the start, how could he professionalise the entire game?”

Sebbaale and administrative officer Martin Ondeko will fill in while the red-faced UCA start the whole recruitment process again.

Comments (1) | Uganda

November 4, 2009

Ireland in hot pursuit of Full Member status

Posted 2 weeks, 2 days ago in Ireland

Ireland have announced an ambitious plan to ascend to Full Member status within the ICC. The Irish will seek to become the ICC's eleventh Full Member nation, and the first to rise from the Associate ranks since Bangladesh in 2000.

Warren Deutrom, Cricket Ireland's chief executive, has sent a letter to the ICC stating his board's intention to apply for Full Membership - a potential pathway to Test cricket - and to seek clarification on the process. The ICC have since informed Ireland of the council's criteria and expectations, and the matter will now be discussed at the next chief executives' meeting, scheduled for later this month.

Click here for the full interview with Warren Deutrom

Comments (3) | Ireland

November 3, 2009

Cricket the Maasai way

Posted 2 weeks, 3 days ago in Kenya

	© The Nation

An interesting report in Kenya’s Nation newspaper on attempts to take cricket to the Maasai tribe in Mukogodo.

The Maasais, known world over for their native style of dressing up and living among the world animals of East Africa, have already accepted the game with the formation of several teams from within the local schools and community.

Aliya Bauer, who is coaching in the area, told the newspaper that the early signs were good. “It’s very encouraging for me as there are already well over 100 people who turn out for practices at venues around the area. This include children as well as older Morans who are very keen and enthusiastic about the game.’

“The children were first introduced to soft ball cricket before graduating to the hard ball version. They have shown phenomenal amount of potential and natural talent.’’

There remain major obstacles.

Bauer cites several handicaps in her attempt to take the sport to wider circle with lack of proper playing and training facilities, uniforms, shoes and other equipments such as bats and balls. Children and elder morans play the game bare feet while others wear traditional ‘firestone’ sandals made from used car tyres. She is pledging for help from donors who can help cricket grow in other areas of the II Polei and its surrounding villages.

Comments (2) | Kenya

Swamibapa favourites to take NPCA title

Posted 2 weeks, 3 days ago in Kenya

Swamibapa are within one game of securing their first NPCA Super League title in six years, and in so doing end Kanbis A’s five-year domination of the tournament, after the penultimate round of matches. Both teams won their games at the weekend, with Swamibapa needing only to take full bonus points against third placed Stray Lions A to be assured of winning the league.

Swamibapa crushed SCLYL by eight wickets after bowling them out for 72, but Kanbis A were forced to work harder for their seven-wicket win over Sir Ali A. Chasing 212, Rakeb Patel (78) and Alpesh Bhudia (68) guided them home

Stray Lions A, who can still overtake Kanbis A to take the runners-up slot, were left on the sidelines as their match with Kanbis B was abandoned.

Comments (0) | Kenya

November 2, 2009

Cricket Canada in crisis after loss of major sponsor

Posted 2 weeks, 4 days ago in Canada

Struggling Cricket Canada has been dealt a major blow with the news that Scotiabank, its main sponsor, has terminated its three-year contract early because of what it claims is “unsatisfactory performance” by the board.

The deal is coming to the end of its first year and while on the field Canada’s performances have been improving, the conduct of the board continues to cause concern. A letter from Scotiabank to recently-appointed CEO Chandra Gocool did not deal in specifics, merely stating that the decision had been made “after careful review and analysis of the cost/benefit, the various program deliverables” and also a review of the board’s “internal/public challenges, and its future direction”.

Although Scotiabank will honour the first year of the contract in full, the second and third years were worth around US$500,000. Given the withdrawal of such a high-profile sponsor and the well-documented problems within Canadian cricket’s administration, it will prove hard to find a replacement, certainly in the short term.

One source was quoted in the media as warning the loss of Scotiabank would seriously impact on all levels of cricket, from the national team right through to the grass-roots game.

Comments (0) | Canada

November 1, 2009

Nigeria's exciting domestic calendar

Posted 2 weeks, 5 days ago in Nigeria

The Nigerian season kicked off on November 1 with the traditional match between the winners of the National Club Championships, Ibejju Lekki, who clinched the title for the second year running, and a Nigeria Cricket Federation Select XI at the Tafewa Balewa Square in Lagos. The Lagos League will follow on November 7 where 14 clubs will play in limited-overs style coloured kits and white balls for the first time.

The Lagos League is in fact one of the four leagues in Nigeria. The Edo League, comprising four clubs, is in the south-south region of the country and is also expected to start sometime this month.

The North-West League and the Eastern Leagues are scheduled for early 2010 as they help in picking the regional qualifiers for the National Cricket Club Championships, normally played from April to June. The National Cricket Club Championships finals would also be played in coloured clothing and white balls.

Another important step in the development of the game in the country is the second National Secondary Schools Championships sponsored by DUFIL Prima. The tournament is expected to start in November-December with the finals slated for April. Sixty schools participated in the 2008-09 pioneer edition.

A turf wicket, the first in Nigeria, will also be constructed in Abeokuta, Ogun State with the help of a Cricket Kenya curator. It is expected the wicket would be in place by the end of 2009 latest.

At the regional level, there there is also a regional Under-18 boys tournament scheduled for April 2010 in Ghana and an Under-13 boys tournament in Gambia in December 2010. An allrounders' academy featuring the top two allrounders from Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Cameroon and Mali is also in the offing.

Comments (3) | Nigeria

October 29, 2009

Namibia performance pleases coach

Posted 3 weeks, 1 day ago in CSA Provincial Three-Day Challenge

Tony Munro

Coming into the 2009-10 CSA Provincial Three-Day Challenge, Namibia coach Johan Rudolph's main priority was that the batsmen score hundreds and spend time at the crease. And after just three games, they have exceeded Rudolph's expectations.

"Last season we scored only two hundreds in the competition," said Rudolph. "This season, the players have bettered the statistic in the first three matches, scoring three hundreds (Raymond van Schoor 141, Sarel Burger 125 not out and Craig Williams 123) and one player scoring three nineties (Gerhard Rudolph's 98, 96 & 92)."

There was further excitement for Rudolph as three hundreds were scored in the opening round of the Namibian domestic MTC 50-over Premier League. "Youngsters scored three hundreds last weekend and if we can get this culture going and do away with high risk cricket in our club setup, I believe we will be on the right track," Rudolph said.

Namibia's next game will be against Boland, starting on Thursday at home in Windhoek, and Rudolph believes it will be a tough test. "Boland will have a very strong team with most of their players playing for University of Stellenboch," Rudolph said. "Uwe Birchenstock and Henno Jordaan are two very good batsman."

Namibia will also play a one-day game against Boland on Sunday, and Rudolph said he was keen that the team perfected the key ingredient in the short format. "They just need to apply the basics in batting, bowling and fielding in pressure situations. Players need to know what is their role in the team and then also to play according to the set gameplan. We don't have superstars in the current squad so its vital for the team to perform as a unit."

Comments (2) | CSA Provincial Three-Day Challenge

October 28, 2009

North West African Championships postponed

Posted 3 weeks, 2 days ago in North West African Championships

Tony Munro

The next North West African Championships have been delayed to April 2010 due to the global financial crisis.

The economic downturn may also see the tournament restricted to its traditional participants, Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria and Sierra Leone, said the president of the Nigeria Cricket Federation, Kwesi Sagoe.

"It is likely that a review of participants would be undertaken given the cost of the event and the relative development standard of each of the North-West African countries. No decision has however been made on this yet," Sagoe told Cricinfo.

In recent years, Morocco and Mali have taken part with Mali experiencing some heavy defeats. At one stage, following the change of the tournament's name to the "North West African Championships", Egypt and Libya had been mentioned as possible future participants.

Comments (1) | North West African Championships

Jeroen Smits quits international cricket

Posted 3 weeks, 2 days ago in Netherlands

Jeroen Smits, Netherlands' 37-year-old captain, has announced his retirement from international cricket.

An old-style wicketkeeper who could bat a little, he was one of the most dependable members of the 2003 and 2007 World Cup side. In a career which started in 1992, he made 140 appearances for his national side, including 38 full ODIs.

"Of course it's tempting to stay on a little longer," he said, but admitted that with 18 months before the next World Cup, he wanted to give his replacement a chance to find his feet. "It's better that I make room for a new captain and a new keeper, and that the team gets a chance to adjust as it prepares for that challenge."

"He's been a terrific servant of Dutch cricket and an incredible support to me since I came into this role," coach Peter Drinnen told Cricket Europe. "That he's stepping down now is typically unselfish, evidence of the way in which he considers the bigger picture, and a mark of the quality of the guy."

Comments (1) | Netherlands

Swamibapa close in on NPCA title

Posted 3 weeks, 2 days ago in Kenya

Defending champions Kanbis A, who have dominated the NPCA Super League of late, maintained their challenge for a sixth straight title with a one-run victory over rivals Stray Lions A, a result which all but ends Lions own ambitions.

Swamibapa A, who have a 14-point lead over Kanbis A, crushed fourth-placed Telca by ten wickets, and with two rounds of matches remaining are favourites to win the league.

Comments (5) | Kenya

October 26, 2009

Four countries to make World Cricket League debuts

Posted 3 weeks, 4 days ago in World Cricket League Americas Division

Tony Munro

Cuba, the Falkland Islands and the hosts, Mexico, are among the four countries set to make their official debuts at the World Cricket League Americas Division Four next year.

The other participant will be fellow debutante, Costa Rica in the event tentatively scheduled between May and September.

Cuba were to make an international debut of sorts in the 2008 Stanford 20/20 tournament before an embargo by the US Government blocked their involvement.

For the Falkland Islands, it will be one of two tournaments they will play next year. The other is a triangular involving three locations named after Viscount Falkland, the commander of part of the Royalist forces at the Battle of Newbury in 1643 in the English Civil War between King Charles I and Oliver Cromwell. The triangular, to be played at Falkland in Fife from July 19-24 will feature Falkland (Fife), Falkland (Newbury, Berkshire) and the Falkland Islands. The tournament is part of Falkland Fife CC's 150th anniversary celebrations. Incidentally, the islands were named for Viscount Falkland as his son was the Secretary of State for the Admiralty when Captain John Davies sighted the Falkland Islands in 1682.

Meanwhile, in the coming 2009-10 season separate Twenty20 tournaments are to be played at the Islands' capital, Stanley, and military base at Mount Pleasant, with the winners of both meeting in a final. The traditional highlight of the season, the South Atlantic Ashes, between the Governor's XI (representing the civilans) and the Commander of the British Forces XI (representing the military) will be played as a three-match series in January, February and March.

Comments (1) | World Cricket League Americas Division