Eventful day keeps World Cup Qualifying spots open -- Posted Wednesday, January 28 2009
Buenos Aires, January 28 - A heavy defeat for previously undefeated Papua New Guinea against Afghanistan and a nail-biting one run win by Uganda against Hong Kong, mean all four teams enter Friday´s last round of group matches with hopes of a place in April´s ICC World Cup Qualifying competition. Cayman Islands beat Argentina in the day´s other game.
Afghanistan, Uganda and Papua New Guinea each has 3 wins and 1 loss. Hong Kong, with 2 wins and 2 losses, seem unlikely to place in the top two, but face PNG in the day´s top match. Afghanistan would be favoured to beat the Cayman Islands (1 win, 3 losses), and Uganda would also expect a win over hosts Argentina (4 losses). But strange things can happen in cricket.
Wednesday gave two major examples as Afghanistan bowled out PNG for just 93 runs. A half-century from Karim Khan saw the Afghans blaze to a winning total in its 16th over. Uganda sealed a 1-run win over Hong Kong, as Ronald Ssemanda took 2 wickets in the 50th over. Hong Kong had needed 6 runs to win, after Kenneth Kamyuka had taken two wickets in the closing overs and Ssemanda had conceded consecutive boundaries in the 48th over, as fortunes fluctuated. Kamyuka took 4 wickets for 21 runs in 10 overs. He dismissed two batsmen in the opening over of Hong Kong´s innings. Manoj Cheruparambil (51 runs) and Butt Hussain (52 runs) battled back to set up the dramatic ending.
Ugandan opening bat Roger Mukasa had a good knock of 67 but had limited support. Kamyuka struck 37 runs, but seems to be placed too low in the Ugandan batting order. Uganda made 180 all out in 50 overs. Hong Kong was all out for 179 in 49.4 overs.
Lucas Paterlini lead the way for Argentina with 70 runs, but had little support, although some late-order determination took the hosts to 165 all out. Alessandro Morris took 3 wickets for 17 runs in 10 overs for the Cayman Islands. Ramon Sealey and Ainsley Hall gave the Caymanians a confident start. Sealey was named Man-of-the-Match for his 66 not out. Hall made 39.
Eddie Norfolk
Papua New Guinea remain unbeaten in WCL Division 3 -- Posted Tuesday, January 27 2009
Buenos Aires, Jan 27: Papua New Guinea beat Uganda by 26 runs in the third round of Pepsi ICC World Cricket League (WCL) Division 3 matches on Tuesday, to remain unbeaten. The win leaves PNG on 3 wins from 3 matches. Hong Kong beat the Cayman Islands by 49 runs and Afghanistan beat hosts Argentina by 19 runs, but both have lost 1 match, as has Uganda. Wednesday sees crunch matches in the battle for the two places in April’s World Cup qualifying competition. PNG faces Afghanistan and Hong Kong locks horns with Uganda.
The two teams from the ICC Americas region, Argentina and Cayman Islands, have each lost 3 matches, but meet in Wednesday’s other game.
PNG soon lost 2 wickets for just 15 runs against Uganda, but it could have been worse. John Ovia and Asad Vala staged a recovery, but both were out with the score on 63. Peter Moide’s innings of 43 not out in a PNG total of 165 all out eventually proved pivotal. Kenneth Kamiyuka, who played in the Toronto and District league in 2008, took 3 wickets for 21 runs with his pace bowling.
Kamiyuka later scored 34 not out, batting eighth for Uganda, but ran out of partners when the last wicket fell at 139. Ugandan opening bat Kyobe made 33 runs, but had limited support. Jamie Brazier took 4 key wickets for 16 runs to take PNG to victory.
Hamish Barton had a similar day to Uganda’s Kamiyuka. Barton took 3 wickets for 12 runs as Argentina dismissed Afghanistan for 164 runs. Ahmed Shah top-scored with 44 runs. Barton made 33 runs, but his side was all out for 145 runs, losing by 19 runs.
Hong Kong beat the Cayman Islands by 49 runs, thanks to strong batting from Manoj Cheruparambil , with 83 runs, and John Lamsan, who made 60. The Caymanians reply of 161 runs fell short of Hong Kong’s 210 all out.
Eddie Norfolk
Cricket Canada (CCA) Umpiring Examinations -- Posted Monday, January 19 2009
Register by e-mail or telephone, stating for which Level that you wish to be a candidate.
Level 1 $10,
Levels 2 and 3 $12
Candidates for Levels 2 and 3 must bring their own calculators for Last Hour calculations and D/L sheets and tables
Candidates must not have taken a Cricket Canada (CCA) umpiring examination early in this calendar year.
Gwynne Giles
gwynnegiles@yahoo.ca
Pepsi ICC Development Programme Awards 2008 launched -- Posted Saturday, January 17 2009
The International Cricket Council has announced details of the annual Pepsi ICC Development Programme Awards for 2008.
This is the seventh year of the awards, which form part of the ICC’s commitment to promoting excellence in cricket development. The awards are designed to recognise exceptional performance and service to the game in ICC Associate and Affiliate Member countries.
“Following the success and very high standard of previous awards, this year promises to see some outstanding cricket programs throughout the developing cricket world put forward,” said ICC Global Development Manager, Matthew Kennedy.
“These awards are a way for us to recognise the hard work and imagination that is being put into developing cricket around the world. It is always fascinating to learn more about those initiatives through the various stages of the awards process,” he said.
There are a total of eight awards across a range of country and individual categories. Nominations are initially considered on a regional basis with the various winners then progressing to the global stage. Further details and application forms are available on the official ICC website at http://icc-cricket.yahoo.com/development/icc-development-awards.html.
The format of this year’s awards is similar to previous years with all 2008 nominations being submitted to ICC regional offices by 10 February. Regions will select and announce the respective regional winners by 1 March with these then also put forward for the global judging process that will take place during March. Winners will be announced on 31 March.
A prize of US$2,000-worth of equipment goes to the global winners in each of the following six categories:
Best Overall Cricket Development Programme
Best Women’s Cricket Initiative
Best Junior Cricket Initiative
Best Cricket Promotional and Marketing Programme
Photo of the Year
Best Spirit of Cricket Initiative in Partnership with UNAIDS and UNICEF
In addition, US$1000-worth of equipment for their local club or association will be presented to the winner of the following two awards:
Volunteer of the Year
Lifetime Service Award
T20 Canada -- Posted Tuesday, January 13 2009
A mixed bag of a year, where little or no progress was made on the pitch but bigger strides were made administratively. The board signed a huge deal with Scotiabank, sponsoring men and women players alike over three years. An encouraging sign for the future, particularly with Canada's keenness to professionalise their administrative set-up - if not yet their cricketers, though that could happen sooner rather than later.
Furthermore, cricket became officially recognised by the government, and over the next few years the sport ought to receive a slice of public funding, though like in many Associate nations, the game remains a minority-interest, and particularly in Canada's case, is played mostly by first and second-generation immigrants.
On the field, the T20 Canada tournament was mostly a logistical success - bar the odd missing visa or two - but Canada were far and away the weakest, finishing bottom. Even Zimbabwe managed to thrash them, as befits their - understandably questionable - status as a Full Member, leaving Canada with more questions than answers. Still, they signed a five-year deal to host similar events in the future, and only time will tell whether they can begin to challenge their own before taking on the heavies.
Foundations are being made behind the scenes and, for now, that is a positive step forward.
Article sourced from:-
http://content-www.cricinfo.com/review2008/content/story/384413.html
ICC World Cup Qualifying Update -- Posted Tuesday, January 13 2009
ICC World Cricket League Division 3 takes place in Argentina between January 24th and 31 st. The WCL provides the platform for ICC Associate and Affiliate teams to climb the ladder and potentially reach a place in the ICC Cricket World Cup.
The top two teams from WCL Division 3 in Buenos Airies, Argentina, will advance to the April 2009 ICC World Cup qualifying competition - effectively a combination of WCL's 1 and 2.
WCL Division 3 participants are Afghanistan, Argentina, Cayman Islands, Hong Kong, Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Uganda. Afghanistan reached this stage by winning both WCL Divisions 5 and 4 during 2008.
Details about the 2009 ICC World Cup Qualifier are expected to be released in the next week. The event is being staged in South Africa from April 1 thru 19, based around the Pretoria/Johannesberg area.
This is a crucial event for Canada's cricket team with just four spots available, under current plans, in the 2011 CWC in South Asia. The top two sides from WCL Division 3 will complete a WC Qualifying lineup that already includes the current six Associate countries with ODI status (Bermuda, Canada, Ireland, Kenya, the Netherlands and Scotland) plus Denmark, Namibia, Oman and the UAE.
When Canada hosted the ICC Trophy in 2001, Hong Kong and PNG began in the Division 1 qualifying groups. Uganda emerged from Division 2 but lost to the UAE (4th in a Division 1 group) in a cross-over match to determine the eight teams in the Super Eight phase.
The Netherlands beat Namibia (who had progressed from Division 2 to the Super Eights) in the Final and Canada beat Scotland in a play-off for 3rd place and secured the last qualifying spot in the 2003 CWC. Crowds of around 3,000 were at the Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club for both the Trophy Final and the 3rd place play-off.
Eddie Norfolk
CMA Ontario’s Inaugural Cricket Day 2008 -- Posted Tuesday, January 13 2009
Another example of business, cricket and life coming together
The Chartered Management Accountants (CMAs) of Ontario held an inaugural cricket day near the Meadowvale Grounds in Mississauga on Saturday May 31, 2008. The aim was to bring members and their families together to “connect and celebrate diversity through the increasingly popular sport of cricket’. Words of welcome, written by the CMA Canada President, Steve Vieweg.
Despite the clouds eventually bursting in the afternoon and a need to play at a nearby school, rather than in the park at Meadowvale, the event brought together CMA members and their families from various parts of Ontario and a number of guests. The day included introductions to cricket for those unfamiliar with the sport. For some it marked a return to cricket action after a few years in the wilderness.
The event was, in a way, an oasis for cricket, but for local cricketing insiders it was an oasis in fertile land, not in a desert! But broadening the development and thus the market for cricket can both bring back followers to the cricket fold, or bring in some new blood of all ages. Youngsters had playground facilities at hand, as well as the chance to play cricket.
Try-out matches took place around a couple of soccer fields. Later in the day CMA Ontario East beat CMA Ontario West by 5 runs in a 5-overs a side match, before losing to CIMA Team 1 in the day’s four-team tournament final. CIMA Team 1 having beaten CIMA Team 2 in the other semi-final. A CMA Ontario combined side then lost to a CIMA combined team to close the day’s playing activities.
The next cricketing port of call for a some of the day’s participants might have been the CIMA Toronto Mayor’s Trophy in June 2008, possibly some of the curious might by now have discovered cricket exists in various parts of Ontario and Canada, or it might be the CMA Ontario Cricket Day 2009. The CIMA folks assisting the CMA cricket day would top the list of people who would attend the Toronto Mayor’s event.
Now some of the CMA people might already have been involved in a cricket league somewhere in Ontario. The CMA Cricket Day, hopefully, might have brought links between those active in the Canadian cricket scene and other CMA members, family and friends that would draw a few more people into the cricketing fold. Then, equally hopefully, this process would expand as a result of future annual CMA Ontario events. And the building chain could then extend to other provinces.
It sounds a bit like putting building bricks together to create something bigger, doesn’t it? Even if only toy wooden or plastic bricks.
Similarities to the emergence of other Cricketing Days
The CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) involvement within the Toronto Mayor’s Trophy and Mayor’s Cup cricket promotional days and series also began as an annual day out for CIMA members and their families. The Toronto Mayor’s Trophy first emerged with organizing involvement and support from CIMA, the St George’s Club and the City’s Parks, Recreation and Forestry department. Major support comes from both the Mayor’s office and Toronto Police.
Sunnybrook Park in the eastern part of Toronto has hosted the June versions of the Toronto Mayor’s Trophy – the 2005 and 2006 versions winning ICC Development Awards – as well as a couple of related events involving the City and the Indo-Canadian Chamber of Commerce in 2007. The annual event in June has had major support from a number of mainstream media outlets.
In 2008, a Mayors Cup cricket event was staged at Etobicoke’s Centennial Park within the framework of a broader Asian Games Festival of several sports. This broadening of the attempt by the City to promote and develop cricket involved the St George’s Club and included the annual City of Toronto versus the Toronto Police match. A series that has goes back at least 20 years.
The sad, common thread from these series is the lack of involvement of the CCA/Cricket Canada, other than for some bandwagon jumping purposes when one of the events won the 2006 ICC Global Development Award. But some people – sadly people high up in some officially driving Canadian cricket, don’t understand the value of such events. Which is why cricket awareness is not as high as it should be in Canada, especially of the domestic cricket scene.
Toronto City Councillor Adam Vaughan mentioned how cricket as “a sport which, in this city, has not enjoyed as rich a profile as it should have.” His words apply at a broader, provincial and country level beyond the confines of Toronto.
There is plenty of potential, but how much of it is being attracted into mainstream Canadian cricket? What efforts to promote the game are being made by the people who are supposed to be cricket’s leaders in Canada, Ontario and the Greater Toronto Area?
Far too few. But a ray of hope emerged as Canadian cricket’s administrative glacier has now given in to the need for a Development Officer.
Canada, the nation seeking Test Status in the next few years according some late year revival words from some of its spokesmen, has languished behind countries such as Brazil with respect to development. Test status sought, but CCA/Cricket Canada leadership’s interest in the ICC Intercontinental Cup quickly disappeared after CWC 2007.
Opportunities have knocked before
But twists and turns have been a de facto core value of CCA/Cricket Canada leaders and national team selection processes for a number of years. I believe the failure to plan properly to create and maintain infrastructure (facilities and human resources) and supporting financial streams or recognize all kinds of potential and opportunites has been a major factor in many of these twists and turns.
Those with a modest amount of sports and business knowledge – you barely need cricket knowledge – have seen some of the weak organization surrounding too many official tournaments and international matches. It turns out I will have seen Ingleton Liburd, the newly appointed Development Officer, captain Canada at least once in the 1990’s.
Progress on the field has not been matched by efforts away from the field, and Canada’s international playing potential has not even been maximised. It may barely have been tapped in some parts of the country. But some of the potential may be tapped by some other sport, or activity, if cricket does not get its act together.
Just look at the dismal efforts demonstrated by the official Cricket Canada website for the recent West Indies Cricket Board one-day tournament and the Pepsi ICC Americas.
But that was a better effort than the lack of coverage for the first Canadian women’s overseas tour (Trinidad & Tobago, 2008). Or a couple of overseas events where some version of a Canadian men’s side was involved (one in South Florida, one in Trinidad). Or the lack of comment on the achievements of four Canadian Under-15 players, including the tour captain, in the ICC Americas Under-15 squad in the CLICO International Under-15 tournament.
Some encouraging thoughts from the CMA Cricket Day 2008
There was a range of support for cricket as part of the CMA Cricket Day. A cross-section of them follow, noting some of the parallels between business, cricket and life
The Ontario Minister of Small Business and Entrepreneurship Harninder Takhar saw the CMA initiative as a ‘true celebration of diversity among the CMA membership’. In the business context, he pointed to CMAs ‘many valuable contributions….to the public, private and non-profit sectors in Ontario (business)”. But contributions to Ontario ’s diverse communities were equally important and ‘sport is an important component of overall health and well being.” Sport and cultural gatherings can and do ‘improve cross-cultural interaction in our daily business relationships”, as he wrote, but also enrich overall lives.
CMA Ontario President Merv Hillier saw parallels between ‘the sporting metaphor of cricket’ and CMA’s being trained “in the integration of strategy, management and accounting”. Both cricket and the work of CMA’s “demonstrate the importance of all three (key qualities) working together to drive success.”
The event was staged in conjunction with CIMA Canada, with sponsorship from Scotiabank and Taylor Liebrow Accountants and Advisors. The CEO of Taylor Liebrow also underlined how the event brought together people from “different backgrounds and communities and this type of event celebrates those differences and unites us under the universal sport of cricket.”
“Talent and teamwork have proved to be the pillars of success in great cricket teams” (it equally applies to more mortal cricket teams, whether recreational or in a competitive league). Taylor Liebrow “believed in the same values” - talent and teamwork – for success.
“We understand that in order to remain relevant to our market place requires investing in our people, technology and maintaining expertise in the industries we serve. We are committed to understanding our clients’ goals and objectives, their challenges, opportunities, and industry as well as their unique operating characteristics. It is from this perspective that we are able to partner with our clients and think strategically to create solutions to meet their needs.”
The previous paragraph is business and work related. But beyond the specific words, they are equally relevant and applicable - or should be - in developing and playing cricket at all levels in this country.
Canadian Cricket Needs
There are crying needs for new and improved outdoor playing fields and facilities as well as for indoor facilities. Such infrastructure requires planning, financing and supporting casts of coaches and people to manage, operate and maintain the facilities. It requires a systematic approach to thinking and implementation of the resultant strategies and plans. And if you have a broad enough perspective, you realize game strategies and plans for cricket have similar needs to parallel needs for supporting human and facilities infrastructure. As do the marketing, promotion and all-round development of the game.
At a City of Toronto reception in 2007 to launch a series of cricket exhibitions, the CCA President spoke of the need for three more pitches in Toronto. This is well short of what is really required. Less than one pitch per league/association active in the city. I filed some potential enhancements and new developments for some 13-14 grounds, noted how some open spaces might be devoted to some other sports, and provided some cost guidance. Someone had to try and put evidence of serious systemic thinking on the table.
The possible indoor facility developments in Toronto that were mentioned at the 2005 CCA AGM never bore fruit. Certain CCA leaders wanted to do something but did not do the supporting work to bring home the related funding. Just like the absence of funding for maintenance of turf wickets created for the 2001 ICC Trophy lead to the demise of most of those wickets.
Cricket interested volunteers began to restore the wickets at Toronto’s Ross Lord Park in 2006, but overuse, which should have been recognized by League officials who use those grounds, saw the wickets revert to dust and barren waste. A similar scenario for the CMA world would be where someone makes an accounting mistake or omission and neither management or the auditors notice the mistake.
It’s hard not to notice the damage to the Ross Lord wickets, if you visit the two playing areas.
I find it impossible, rather than hard, to imagine ‘nobody’ noticed some of the Satuam Computers financial hole. Or various other aspects of the US-lead global financial crisis and partly related side-shows.
Money does not grow on trees – but you could stick or nail some money to a tree. There are no magic solutions in life for 99.99% of the time – allowing for the occasional miracle. If something sounds too good to be true, it is probably untrue with the odd exception and probably for special reasons.
Andy Ganteaume scored a century on his Test debut. He didn’t play in another Test….and he did not suddenly die or get killed in a war or accident. It doesn’t seem to add up, does it, but it is true.
Some of the symptoms, or ‘reasons’, he was not picked again still linger too large in some aspects of life, cricket and business. The world would be a better place if they did not.
Eddie Norfolk
California Cricket Academy Under-14’s Year-end tour to India -- Posted Tuesday, January 13 2009
The California Cricket Academy, hosts of the 2008 Friendship Series that involved an Ontario Select Under-15 team and leading USA Under-15 players, sent an Under-14 team to India at the end of 2008.
The California CA team's program was headed by two matches against an Ahmedabad District (Gujarat) then moved on to meet a Baroda District team.
The young Californians met up with some State level players in the Amedabad side. In the first match, the Ahmedabad District scored 201 for 2 wickets and then restricted California CA to 145 for 9 wickets.
Rex Lee was man-of-the-match for Ahmedabad District, leading the way with a knock of 76 runs. Meet Parikh also notched a half-century, scoring 68 runs. California’s Dave Parikh, a 13 year old left-handed batsman, made 28.
The Ahmedabad District made 169 all out (40 overs) in the second match. Aditya made 41 and Meet Parikh 31. California off-spinner Sandeep Peddada, a 13 year-old, took 3 wickets for 32 runs from his 8 overs. The California Academy battled away, but was eventually all out for 85 runs after 37 overs. Immanuel Amirathraj, a 13 year old right-hander, top-scored with 13 runs.
The California Academy moved on from Gujarat to Mumbai, then closed its’ representative matches against a Baroda District team.
Batting first, the California side made 136 all out in 40 overs. Immanuel Amirathraj made 25, captain Arsh Buch 24 and Mihir Altekar 21. Buch is a 14 year old right-hander is a US Under-15 international. Altekar, another right-hand bat, is just 12 years old.
The Baroda District responded with 136 for 4 wickets from 37.1 overs, to win by 6 wickets. Anant made 52 and Parth 44.
Amit Buch was the coach for this tour and Satsheer Altekar, one of the parents, volunteered as tour manager.
It was an exciting experience for the California youngsters and underlines the great efforts of the California Cricket Academy to promote the development of cricketing state in the San Francisco Bay area.
One of the youngsters talked about the quality of facilities that were available in Gujarat and Baroda, and the obviously superior cricketing infrastructure and organization in those areas compared to the lack of national infrastructure in the USA.
A sentiment familiar to many in Canadian cricket circles.
Let's hope for a miraculous change in this, the 150th anniversary year of the first overseas tour by English Cricketers to North America. The English pros even noticed playing facilities could do with some improvement and cricket needed better promotion, to help its progress, back in 1859.
Summary of Representative Match Results
Match 1:
Gujarat CA - Ahmedabad District 210 for 2 wickets
California CA 145 for 9 wickets
Result: Gujarat CA - Ahmedabad District won by 65 runs
Match 2:
Gujarat CA - Ahmedabad District 169 all out (40 overs)
California CA 145 for 9 wickets (40 overs)
Result: Gujarat CA - Ahmedabad District won by 84 runs
Match 3:
California CA 136 all out (40 overs)
Baroda District 136 for 4 wickets (37.1 overs)
Result: Gujarat CA - Ahmedabad District won by 65 runs
Eddie Norfolk
ICC launches centenary year in Sydney -- Posted Friday, January 2 2009
Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat: “Cricket gets plenty right, has plenty to celebrate and has plenty to look forward to”
“The game faces challenges but so does every other major global sport”
“Emerging stars, three great formats, medium-term financial security and the evidence of history are all reasons to smile, as is the great spirit in which cricket is played and enjoyed by millions of people across the world”
ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat today launched the global governing body’s centenary year with a simple message: “Cricket is a game that gets plenty right, has plenty to celebrate and has plenty to look forward to.”
Mr Lorgat, speaking at the Sydney Cricket Ground alongside ICC President David Morgan ahead of the start of tomorrow’s Australia – South Africa Test match, said the ICC faced ongoing challenges as it moved into its second hundred years of existence.
But he believed the international game’s three formats, its medium-term financial security and the emergence of a new generation of leading players, as well as the evidence of history and the great spirit in which cricket was played and enjoyed by millions of people across the world, were all reasons for the game to wear a collective smile of pride.
“As the ICC enters its second century, the game faces challenges – safety and security, player workload, balancing formats, ensuring a competitive balance between ICC Members, staying on top of corruption and plenty more besides,” said Mr Lorgat.
“But then again cricket has always faced challenges just as big, if not bigger, than those currently confronting us – Bodyline, illegal bowling actions in the 1950s and 1960s and corruption, to name just three. And, as a successful global sport, cricket will not be unique in facing such significant challenges.
“The key we all need to remember is that cricket has always dealt with those past challenges and is now, as a result, stronger than ever.
“We are perhaps the only sport with three viable forms of the game at international level and we are about to launch the world’s first Global Cricket Academy in Dubai with state-of-the-art facilities for the world.
“And, as a governing body that ploughs all money earned back to its Members, we have just begun investing US$300 million into the development of the game among our second and third tier Members, the biggest commitment to grow a sport outside of soccer.
“Greats of the game like Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Adam Gilchrist, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Shaun Pollock and Brian Lara may have moved on but the recent performances of the likes of Ajantha Mendis, AB de Villiers, Dale Steyn and Ishant Sharma suggest the future is in good hands.
“The start of the ICC’s centenary year gives us all the chance to reflect on the past and look to the future. When I do that I see a game that’s played and enjoyed in a great spirit by millions of people across the world, gets plenty right, has plenty to celebrate and has plenty to look forward to,” he added.
The ICC’s centenary year of 2009 is intended to be a global celebration with events taking place around the world to reflect all that is great about the game.
On the field these events include the ICC Women’s World Cup, the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier, the ICC World Twenty20 event for men and women and the ICC Champions Trophy.
And off it there will be the opening of the ICC Global Cricket Academy and the inauguration of the ICC’s new headquarters, both in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, the launch of the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in association with the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA), and an ICC History Conference at St Antony’s College, Oxford in the United Kingdom in July.
The ICC will also be celebrating the contribution of volunteers across the world through the award of 1000 centenary medals and will announce new developments to its social responsibility partnership on HIV/AIDS.
During the course of 2009, each of the ICC’s 104 Members will be hosting activities inspired by the special spirit of cricket as part of a global “Catch the Spirit” centenary celebration.
To promote this theme and the launch of the ICC’s centenary year website, www.catchthespirit.com, leading international stars have named their “Catch the Spirit” moments which best encapsulate the spirit of cricket.
Among those stars that can be seen on the website, Yuvraj Singh of India speaks of his experiences in Pakistan – India matches and South Africa’s Jacques Kallis reflects on his side’s famous chase of 438 to beat Australia in an ODI in Johannesburg.
During the course of the year fans will be able to upload their own “Catch the Spirit” moments onto the website, so supporters across the world can celebrate the spirit of cricket.