Zimbabwe Cricket has confirmed that it will enter an A side into the 2009-10 Intercontinental Cup, in accordance with the recommendations of the ICC's task force.
The initial fixtures for the seven-team competition have been announced but, so far, no fixtures including either Zimbabwe or Afghanistan have been included.
The ICC is believed to have contacted the other five participants and asked if their governments position on them sending teams to the two countries or even playing against them.
If there are problems they are likely to come from the three European countries - Ireland, Netherlands and Scotland - as the European Union has blocks on certain senior ZC officials and issuing visas for Zimbabwe teams could prove problematical.
It is expected that Afghanistan's home matches will be staged in the UAE.
There is no point in sending 'A' side team.Test match status should be at stake for Zimbabwe, if they feel they are above associate cricket.Whoever wins the Intercontinental(IC) Cup gets the test match status, and every year bottom-most team in Test match ranking will participate in IC cup, this will raise the standard of associate cricket and some road-map for test-status as urged by Irish Cricket Union.
Posted by: colin macbeth at June 17, 2009 5:23 PM
An 'A' side, eh? Who are Zimbabwe trying to kid? Teams such as Ireland and Netherlands, Canada and Kenya too perhaps, deserve to play the full Zimbabwe side. Indeed, who do the full Zimbabwe side think they're going to play at present?
Zimbabwe nowadays belong Beyond The Test World and they should be honest enough to accept this.
Posted by: Terry Jones at June 17, 2009 6:20 PM
Zimb entering an A side in the comp is a start. However, I would have preferred that they enter their full side, and prove that they are ranked 10th in 4/5 day cricket.
If Zimb A dont win the Intercontinental Cup (IC), I hope that ICC rightfully assigns a test spot to the team that wins the IC.
I think that it would have been useful also for Bangladesh A to be in the competition as well to increase competition in 4 day cricket for Associates and to prove that Bang & Zimb are stronger teams then Ireland & the other associated teams.
I hope that ICC comes out and announces that the winner of the 09/10 IC will be promoted to Test Cricket for 2 years until the next IC has completed. The winner could also be required to field a team in IC for 11/12 to hold onto their test status ... it would then give meaning to IC.
I also think that ICC should make a decision on Zimb regarding Test Cricket, either they are a full member (with Test status), associate member or a banned member.
Posted by: Harry at June 18, 2009 2:35 AM
give netherlands, scotland and ireland the cahnce to play test matches
Posted by: Vikram Maingi at June 22, 2009 7:30 AM
Is anybody having an idea on the schedule of the Intercontinental Cup 09-10?
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