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Sri
Lanka to host the 2004 Indoor Cricket World Cup.
Indoor
Cricket World has been informed that England has forfeited its
right to host the 2004 World Cup. On the proviso that they are
granted the 2006 Cup, England have allowed Sri Lanka to host it
in 2004.
This is good news -- it is very important we have more countries
join the World Cup competition. And having it played in Sri Lanka
provides the sport there an excellent opportunity for exposure.
If that exposure is skilfully managed, the sport has a good chance
of gaining a foothold. But let's not forget, Brian Lara and Larry
Gomes, for example, both played the game in the West Indies (Trinidad)
.... once .... long ago .... when it had a foothold.
Efforts
to get more countries to participate in the World Cup must not
be to the exclusion of that which is vital for our
sport: the encouragement and practical support/assistance
for the establishment and sustained development of the sport at
'grass root' level in other countries.
The World Cup is a great spectacle, and the more teams, the better
the spectacle.
The World Cup is also, sadly, an under-exploited showcase of one
of the better sports around, but there are some signs that New
Zealand may be going to positively rectify that . . . more on
this later.
However, one thing is inescapable -- no matter how many countries
play in it, the World Cup will die if we're all so busy watching
it, we forget to pay any attention to the grass roots players
who turn up week after week at their local centre.
This
doesn't mean we shouldn't rejoice at Sri Lanka's inclusion. Of
course we should, as we rejoiced at India's in the last World
Cup. We should and we do, whole-heartedly.
But
we should also be asking this question:
Are we, the Indoor Cricket "establishment", doing everything
we can to help establish the sport in Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan,
Malaysia, Canada, Singapore, the United States of America, the
United Arab Emirates, the West Indies, Holland, Namibia or Zimbabwe
(these are the countries from which we receive the most email
enquiries)?
Or should we just leave it to chance, hoping some entrepreneurial
souls will do the job for us?
Korfball anyone?
Women
to join the World Masters in 2003
Despite
(or because of ?) winning only one game at the recent World Masters
in Perth, South Africa have keenly sought to have the next Masters
played in South Africa. Indoor Cricket World understands that
at a recent meeting in Perth, this wish was granted, and South
Africa were officially granted the right to host it in 2003.
And included for the first time will be an over-30's Women's competition.
This is great news for the Masters competition, and it's to be
hoped it gains the full support of all participating nations.
Back to News Desk
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