GUERNSEY cricket yesterday hit the jackpot with its admission into the ‘associate’ ranks of the International Cricket Council.
David Piesing (pictured), chairman of the Guernsey Cricket Board, was at the Dubai conference to hear the expected news.
‘It’s gone through unanimously and we are the 34th associated member,’ he said. ‘Guernsey was the only country to be upgraded and asked how island cricket would benefit: Piesing summed it up in one word: ‘massively’.
While declining to elaborate on exact funding amounts, it is understood to be a three-figure sum per annum. ‘It’s a several-fold increase on what we had been managing on. It will go to improving facilities, employment of groundstaff, coaches and the development of players.’
Piesing said that the future for the game was exciting.
‘In some respects we are only at the start of where we could get to.
‘Obviously, to have significant income will make a massive difference.’
Richard Holdsworth, the ICC’s regional development manager, said Guernsey’s upgrade was fully deserved.
‘The infrastructure on the island has developed well in recent years with good support of local sponsors and government organisations.
‘Their excellent facilities including grass pitches and a new indoor cricket centre will help them to further develop at international level.’
He added: ‘This is a credit to the hard work of the Guernsey Cricket Board and in particular its chairman, David Piesing. Guernsey cricket should be very proud of itself.’
With Guernsey aboard, Europe now has 30 ICC members plus full member England. This number is made up of 12 Associates including Ireland, the Netherlands and Scotland, and 18 affiliates.
The decision to promote Guernsey to associate status comes only three years after it was granted affiliate membership. In that time cricket in the island has gone from strength to strength both on and off the field.
Of particular note to the ICC has been the success of the national youth sides, which emphasise the quality of the development programme that the Guernsey Cricket Board has put in place.
Last year Guernsey won the ICC European Under-15 Division Two Championship beating nine other European associate and affiliate members, and finished second and third in the European Under-19 Division Two and Under-23 Division Two respectively.
Such achievements culminated in a successful inspection visit from the ICC in May when the ICC’s global development manager Matthew Kennedy and associate director Samir Inamder assessed Guernsey’s suitability for promotion to associate membership.
It’s known the GCB impressed with its excellent facilities, strong development programme and high level of cricket and this was reported back to the voting Members of the ICC at this week’s conference.
Article posted on 5th July, 2008 - 9.31am
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