5 innovations that will help ICC to expand cricket in new countries

Jun 16, 2016 at 6:00 PM

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5 innovations that will help ICC to expand cricket in new countries

Cricket is the second oldest game in the world and in terms of popularity this game is the second most popular sport in the world after football. But Cricket has never been expanded in none commonwealth countries. It will not be an exaggeration to say that cricket is more a commonwealth game than a game of non-commonwealth countries’ .

But ICC has  109 members including full-time members, associate members, and affiliated members. But  in recent time, it was observed that only  seven associate countries have become the big contenders to play the T20 World Cup in India. Countries like Kenya, who once qualified for the 2003 World Cup semifinal, failed to improve their performance in future.

Cricket’s strong presence in only a few countries sparked a concern among the officials of cricket and fans. Now ICC have been coming up with  plans to popularize  the game  in other countries who are taking the game seriously. ICC’s latest plan is two-tier Test cricket system that will help associate members like Ireland and Afghanistan to play the Test cricket in the second tier against West Indies, Bangladesh, and Zimbabwe. The two-tier Test system will also give them an opportunity to qualify in the top division of the game. And if not then a super match between top division’s last team of the table  and second vision’s second best team will be held. The top team from the second tier will qualify for the first division.

Here are five more innovations which will help cricket to expand the game in new countries to strengthen its foothold.

Cricket in commonwealth games

Commonwealth Games  is one of the biggest multi-sports tournament in the world.  Commonwealth of Nations has 53 members but 71 countries participate in this mega tournament. So ICC can convince the tournament official to host the matches. This tournament will help  cricket to instill knowledge among other the non-cricket playing countries.

Asian Cricket Council have already convinced the Asian Games officials to host cricket matches in 2014 Asiad. In the 2014 Asiad cricket was a part of the tournament. Sri Lanka emerged the eventual champion.  But India and Pakistan refused to participate. Similarly, if cricket plays in Commonwealth Games in each and every edition that will help other countries to take the game seriously. The game will emerge as an opportunity to win a medal. Cricket once played in the commonwealth games in 1998 when South Africa emerged champion.  But since then cricket was never a part of the game. But this time, ICC is trying to include the game in the 2022 Durban Commonwealth Games.

Help countries who are taking cricket as a medium of social reunion

There are a few countries in the world that have been demolished owing tribal war. One of those countries   is Rwanda. They have nothing to play the game  but still they showed great intent to play and watch the game.  Their captain Eric Dusingizimana set a Gunnies record by playing a 51-hour long net session in the capital city Kigali.

Rwanda is a victim of 1996 genocide. Germany was their colonial father. Football is the prime game in the landlocked African state. FIFA has been doing an outstanding job in this country. But ICC is  yet to do something for cricket in this country. They are an affiliate member of the country.

They have neither a ground or cricket kits to play the game. ICC should help them to play the game. The help will encourage local boys to take the game seriously.

Hosting cricket tournaments in associate countries

ICC last time hosted a big tournament at an associate nation in 2000 when champions trophy played in  Keny. Kenya was also a part of the hosting country in 2003.

ICC has already planned to host the World T20 in the USA. The All-Star Cricket League, a tournament planned by legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar and legendary leg-spinner Anil Kumble, has become very popular in  the USA that prompted ICC to discuss possible chance to host the World T20 in the country in near future.  New York, Houston, and Los Angeles  were the three USA cities where this tournament held. Star cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar, Shane Warne, Kumar Sangakkara, Ricky Ponting, Sourav Ganguly have played the tournament. USA is also an associate member of ICC . Hosting big tournaments in this countries will encourage local cricket fans to watch the game from the stadiums. The local cricket body will take the game professionally.

Cricket should be made an Olympic sport

Countries who are hungry for a medal in the sports’ biggest event Olympic excelled in every Olympic sport. If cricket becomes a part of this tournament then non-cricket playing countries will also take cricket seriously. The government will take extra initiative to help country’s cricket board to roll out a plan to develop the cricket in the country.

Last year Siberia has become ICC’s affiliated member. On the other hand, ICC punished USACA (United States Cricket Association) as they failed to meet the one-year goal using ICC’s fund. But punishing the richest country’s cricket board will not ICC’s plan to host World T20 in the USA, they have to come up with a broader plan to develop cricket.

The Olympic will help cricket other countries to understand the game and take it seriously as a serious medal prospect.

Unlock the window for more countries in the WT20

In 2016 World T20 six  associate member has participated in the qualifying  round of the World T20 along with Zimbabwe and Bangladesh. Only Afghanistan have qualified for the tournament as an associate member when Ireland, Scotland and Netherlands’ destiny ruined by the torrential rain in Dharamsala.

Afghanistan, Netherland, Namibia, Ireland, Hong Kong  have qualified through an ICC WT20 qualifying round so another qualifying round before the main round in India is not justifiable. ICC would have been given them a chance to play the tournament.  The 10 team tournament could have been 16 team tournaments letting the six associate members to play the tournament. Netherland and Ireland have had a very good track record at big tournaments . They have beaten Pakistan, Bangladesh, and England in World Cup and World T20 respectively.

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