JERSEY and Guernsey are both to apply for membership of the International Cricket Council.
The Channel Islands Cricket Board made the decision earlier this week leaving both islands now to make their own applications for affiliate membership to the ICC’s annual general meeting in June 2005.Admission to the ICC will open the door for both islands to participate in various regional European and global tournaments for affiliate and associate members across full, under-19, U17, U15 and U13 age groups, as well as women, from as early as July/August 2005.CICB’s David Piesing, who has been heavily involved in all negotiations and discussions with the English Cricket Board and the ICC, said: ‘If the islands are accepted these tournaments will include the ICC World Cup qualifying tournament in 2009, from which six associate or affiliate member countries will qualify for the 2011 World Cup.
Unfortunately our applications will make us too late to be included for the 2005 World Cup tournament in Ireland.’There is also the carrot of the U19 World Cup for the islands’ youngsters to aim for.Piesing added: ‘The U19 World Cup is held every two years and the recent 2004 tournament in Bangladesh received extensive coverage on satellite television.
With Nepal, Papua New Guinea and Canada having qualified for that tournament from the global pool of associate members, it’s a realistic target for Jersey or Guernsey to qualify within the next ten years if the fantastic youth development programmes in place in both islands continues on its present path.’There is also the very realistic possibility of Jersey and Guernsey hosting or co-hosting European regional tournaments which will really help put the islands on the global cricketing map.’CICB chairman Keith Dennis, of Jersey, said: ‘The decisions made by both islands have been considered carefully.
There has been many months of comprehensive research and discussions, not least with the ECB and the Cricket Foundation who have generously agreed to continue to provide ongoing funding to both islands for a minimum period of two years.’At the end of that period in 2007 it is hoped Jersey and Guernsey will have progressed from affiliate membership to associate membership status and then they would become eligible for substantial distributions from the ICC’s global fund pools which are shred among the associate members.’The CICB will continue to exist as the recipient of ongoing ECB and Cricket Foundation funding during the transitional stage.
Both islands will set up new associations and they the applications forms will be filled in and forward.
We have until the end of this year to make the application but I expect it all to be completed in the next couple of months.’The islands applying early will mean they will be included into competition for the summer of 2005.Dennis added: ‘Joining the ICC will not affect Chris Minty’s job as a cricket development officer.
The ICC have development officials doing very much the same work as Chris is doing now.
He is likely to have another title but he’s staying on.
He’s doing a great job for cricket and his role is of paramount importance for us to continue to make steps forward in the sport.’Guernsey made their decision to join the ICC in January but they held back on announcing it until Jersey’s decision had been reached.
Article posted on 18th March, 2004 - 12.00am
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