Six teams will take the first step on the road to qualification for the 2015 World Cup on Sunday when the ICC World Cricket League Division 7 gets underway in Guernsey, and the minnows have been given a boost in spirit and profile by two high-profile names lending their support.
It's splendid that Vettori and Bracken - and I'm sure others - are aware of the fact that cricket now spreads to the edges of the Earth! I wonder, then, being appraised of Afghanistan's recent valiant efforts, if they are also aware of Sierra Leone's achievement in coming in runners-up in the recent Africa Under-19 competition in Lusaka? Now Sierra Leone go on, with winners Uganda, to the next round in Singapore in September, where they will meet...Afghanistan! Isn't it wonderful that cricket is acting as a bridge to help heal social and ethnic conflicts in war-torn and once war-torn countries? You know they're also playing in Rwanda and Mozambique (and St Helena)? I recommend to all Cricket Without Boundaries (www.cricketwithoutboundaries.com)which is doing wonderful work bringing the game on in Africa in particular.
I remember the 1994 Bermudan calypso: "Charlie Marshall,he dance down the wicket; whack the ball, it's the game of cricket!"
It says it all!
'Topspinner'
Posted by: Vikram Maingi at May 16, 2009 6:53 PM
I'll appreciate Colin Macbeth as well, who seems to be a good follower of the game. It is true that the game is spreading very fast in Africa. There needs to be a lot of hard work put in the development for South American countries and the Polynesian islands. Even the Eastern Europe needs to learn a lot about the game from the Western part.
Posted by: Aditya Mookerjee at May 17, 2009 7:24 AM
I am going to try and follow the league seven encounters which are to start in Guernsey. I hope that all the minor and major teams make it to the world cup, or at least, as many as can.
Posted by: shan169 at May 19, 2009 6:34 AM
(glad to see so many regular followers of non-test countries' cricket...
Beyond The Test World, is the only blog i watch without fail every time i visit cricinfo... i'm talking abt even way before WCL started...)
i think T20 WC is the perfect platform to spread the game...
- can attract TV-audiences in new countries...
- minnows r also a threat (eq: Zim vs Aus in 2007 T20 WC), so matches arent really loop-sided...
- its a short game, so the tournament can afford more matches
- which means, more teams...
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