Next week's ICC annual get-together promises to have more than its fair share of politicking, posturing and controversy. But, unless there is a major about-turn, it should also be a watershed for the Associates and Affiliates.

In 2009, income from the ICC's six-year media deal with ESPN-Star, worth over US$1 billion, kicks in, and while the game's big boys will still keep the lion's share, the rest will see substantial increases in their incomes.

Continue reading "Future bright beyond the Test world"

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

The research, carried out by the ICC's development program, was collated from 33 Associate and 58 Affiliate members. It showed that there were 338,051 male and female players in those countries in 2007, an increase of 49,158 on the previous year. Since 2002, when there were 144,047 participants, there has been a 135% rise.

Click here for the full story.

Jersey became the 33rd country to be granted Associate membership at the ICC Annual Conference held last week at Lord's.

The decision comes after a successful 12 months for cricket on the island and makes Jersey the 11th European Associate Member joining the likes of Denmark, Ireland and Netherlands.

Cameroon, The Falkland Islands, Peru and Swaziland were awarded Affiliate membership, taking the total number of ICC members up to 101. Jersey was the only country to be granted Associate Membership.

The Falkland Islands were elected with only one dissenting voice. Argentina abstained in the week that marked the 25th anniversary of the end of the Falklands War.

It's perhaps unlikely to imagine cricket making much of an impact in a football-crazed country such as Cameroon. But, after recognition from the state, the sport is beginning to grow at quite a rate, as reported by allafrica.com:

The establishment of the game in Cameroon has been thanks to support from the British government through its embassy in Yaounde which has always provided logistic support to the federation. The British High Commissioner to Cameroon, Syd Madicott, was on the field of play in the match against Cameroon, just to drum-up support for the Game which like football, originated from his country.

The establishment of the game in Cameroon has been thanks to support from the British government through its embassy in Yaounde which has always provided logistic support to the federation. The British High Commissioner to Cameroon, Syd Madicott, was on the field of play in the match against Cameroon, just to drum-up support for the Game which like football, originated from his country.