L-R: Matthew Kennedy (ICC global development manager), Samir Inamdar (Cricket Kenya chairman), Dave Piesing (Guernsey Cricket Board chairman) and Richard Holdsworth (ICC Europe regional development manager). (0576081)
ICC officials have been wowed by the set-up of Guernsey cricket and will present a very favourable report to its members as the island looks to gain associate membership this summer.
‘We do not make the decision, but the inspection report will be extremely positive. I cannot speak highly enough of what we have seen here,’ said the ICC global development manager, Matthew Kennedy, yesterday.
He had been joined in the island over three days this week by Europe’s regional development manager Richard Holdsworth and chairman of Cricket Kenya Samir Inamdar, who is also one of the associate countries’ directors.
During that time they visited the island’s sports facilties and met all parties with an interest in local cricket, such as the Sports Commission, the GCA and Gacus.
Kennedy now reports back to the development committee in Dubai and from there any recommendation for associate membership goes to those countries with that status already.
Providing all goes well, adoption would come at the ICC annual meeting in July.
‘We have been very impressed,’ Kennedy said.
‘One of the things we look for is a good, strong, off-field team of people. Here you have four or five paid development staff and a great mix of a board spectrum of volunteers. It all really gels under good leadership.
‘You also have a good development programme that will certainly pay off in future.’
Kennedy emphasised that while the performances of the senior team are only a small factor in the decision, the opportunities are virtually endless.
‘We have set up a structure now that means anyone can get to the World Cup. It’s about grasping opportunities.
‘Through the new World League, we are also proud that an island like Guernsey has the opportunity to compete on the world stage and not be confined to European competitions.
‘This is the first year that the island has hosted a senior tournament [the ECC Division Two Championship] and I am sure that it will be a fantastic event in August.
‘It is great for the Guernsey guys to be playing against those sides on their own pitches and the performances in those types of event this year will be very important when it comes to where teams are in the World League structure.’
Loading ...
Share this article:
What are these?