Unease over the ratification of the revised constitution of the USA Cricket Association grew with the last-minute extension of the deadline for voting from December 27 to December 31.

The move by Chris Dehring, the independent third party appointed by the ICC, was largely in response to claims that some voting forms were not sent out in time for them to give clubs the required period to consider how they wanted to vote.

There were claims circulating last week that some forms were only dispatched on December 12, giving less than a fortnight for them to be completed and returned and not the 21 days required. By giving an extra four days, Dehring should have ensured that particular bone of contention has been put to rest.

It seems likely that Dehring's intervention will ensure that the new constitution is passed and that fresh elections can be held as a result. However, it is also growing abundantly clear that if those elections return Gladstone Dainty, the existing chairman, and his much-maligned executive then even some of those who have backed the new constitution will refuse to work with the board.

Some things remain depressingly constant and one of them is the media crusade against Cricket Kenya in The Nation.

“This was a year when Kenyan cricket sunk further into mediocrity despite Kenya’s triumph,” Richard Mwangi writes in an article mischievously and misleadingly entitled Kenya’s game still in the gutter, before a long rambling column which does little to substantiate his claim. He ends with a comment that the Cricket Kenya failed to hold an AGM “which could have ushered in new officials”. An explanation why might have helped but it suited his argument not to go into that.

Mwangi, like any reporter, is, of course, entitled to his views. But as we have stated before, there have to be questions as to who is pulling the strings of the general sniping. The board are privately angered by the stance of the Nation after several olive branches have been spurned or used to beat those offering them.

Kenya has issues for sure, but a year in which they won the World Cricket League and won 14 out of 17 ODIs, signed a new TV deal and a new sponsor cannot be all bad. But that’s not the kind of story that the Nation is interested in peddling. Kenyan cricket needs all the help it can get to rebuild, while being subjected to valid criticism, but they know by now that the mainstream newspapers won't be the ones to do that.

As the deadline for voting for the new USA Cricket Association looms, Chris Dehring, the independent third party appointed to oversee the process, has drawn up a Q&A to help answer stakeholders’ queries.

Click here to download the PDF

Peter Steindl, the former Scotland fast bowler, has been announced as the country's new coach, replacing Peter Drinnen who resigned in July.

"After working with the squad last season on an interim basis I am delighted to progress to work full-time in preparing the team towards the 2009 ICC Trophy," Steindl said. "We have the opportunity to build on some excellent performances last season and prepare for an exciting fixture list this season. We have 16 months to prepare the squad for a massive event and the work starts now."

Drinnen resigned after a run of disappointing results, and the team played on without a permanent coach for the remainder of the summer as Steindl and Andy Tennant shared the position in an unofficial capacity. Steindl's tenure starts in earnest on January 1.

Cuba will not be playing in the 2008 Stanford 20/20 because of a political embargo by the USA government, the competition's board of directors has announced. Click here for the full story.

Martin Williamson argues that there's a certain double irony about the USA's actions.

Cricket is thriving among the ex-pats in Houston, Texas. But, reports the Houston Chronicle, the future of the game could be threatened.

Andy Tennant, Cricket Scotland’s newly-designated head of cricket, has become the first coach in Scotland to acquire a Level 4 coaching qualification, after a course which lasted over two years.

“The course lasted 27 months,” Tennant said. “It consisted of 12 modules varying from three to five days in length. There were five assignments and a final assessment. The portfolio of supporting evidence about my coaching practice that I submitted for my final assessment was 17,000 words long!”

Tennant’s ‘cohort’ of colleagues who were also seeking a Level 4 qualification at the same time included candidates from the professional game in England and several well-known faces, including Chris Adams, the Sussex captain, together with Ian Salisbury and Graeme Fowler.

“I am delighted to have completed what has been an extremely long but rewarding journey,” Tennant said. “The ECB elite coaching programme is undoubtedly at the cutting edge of coaching and I am excited about using the knowledge and skills I have gained on the course to help Scottish cricket and our elite young cricketers to become even more competitive on the world stage.”

Gordon Lord, the Elite Coach Development Manager for the ECB, added: "We are delighted that Andy Tennant has achieved the Level 4 Award. He joins an elite group of 62 coaches worldwide who hold this qualification.

“Andy's outstanding communication and leadership skills, his ability to integrate into his coaching process a deep understanding of the technical, tactical, physical, mental and lifestyle demands of the elite game, and his ability to learn, will ensure that he remains at the forefont of the coaching profession."

Roddy Smith, Cricket Scotland’s chief executive, also paid tribute to Tennant’s tenacity over the two-year course of training: “Cricket Scotland is investing a significant resource in supporting our best coaches. Andy’s success will hopefully be the forerunner to the next group of coaches achieving this professional qualification.”

The inaugural ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier, which will take place in Belfast at the start of August, is the highlight of the Associates schedule for 2008 which was announced by the ICC today.

The three-day Qualifier will feature the six leading Associates - Bermuda, Canada, Ireland, Kenya, the Netherlands and Scotland - with the winners going through to the ICC World Twenty20 in England in 2009. The two successful teams will also stand to gain US$250,000 each for qualifying.

Click here for the full story

Uganda underlined their growing reputation as one of cricket's emerging forces with a 12-run victory over neighbours Kenya in the final of the East and Central Africa Under-15 Championship. The win avenged their defeat by the Kenyans in last year's final.

Click here for a full report

Peter Drinnen will be appointed as the new Netherlands coach at a meeting of the Dutch board on December 13, according to the Cricket Netherland website.

Drinnen was coach of Scotland until July this year when he stepped down in unhappy circumstances after senior players were reported to have instigated a whispering campaign against him. He has continued to work with the A and Under-23 teams.

Junior cricket is again on the march in the USA. On the heels of the USA Under-17s tour of India, an Under-19s squad put together by the Texas Cricket Academy will be going to India as well.

Read the full story at Cricinfo where you can also leave your comments.

Scotland will be among the first to use Dubai's new state-of-the-art academy when it opens late next year, according to a report in today’s Herald:

Roddy Smith, chief executive of Cricket Scotland, has revealed that the Scots will complete their preparations at the new academy which includes a 25,000-seater stadium and indoor arenas.

Smith said: "The stadium is well on the way to completion and we're told the entire cricket academy will be ready to open late next year.

"That will tie in very nicely with our preparations for the World Cup qualifiers. I'd imagine we'd go out there for a few weeks either in late 2008 or early 2009 to prepare."

Japan and Vanuatu have qualified for the ICC World Cricket League Division 5 tournament following their wins in the final round of the EAP Trophy in Auckland on Saturday.

Japan ended the tournament unbeaten following their five-wicket victory against Cook Islands, while Vanuatu made it four from five with a 65-run win against Tonga. Andrew Mansale again led for Vanuatu, with 79 in a total of 226.

Samoa, meanwhile, consigned Indonesia to their fifth straight loss with a three-wicket victory with ten overs to spare. The ties were a replay of the washed-out fourth round.

Japan and Vanuatu will now head to Jersey in May 2008 to represent the East Asia-Pacific region in the WCL Division 5.

Kenya have selected five new players for the East and Central Africa youth tournament which gets underway on Sunday.

The five new players include Nikit Shaha, Harrison Ambani, Ivan karim, Deresh Patel and David Muibo. The team of 14 players was named as the team did their final touches today at Sir Ali Muslim club in Nairobi.

Coach David Asiji said only four players who featured in last year's tournament are in the squad among them Kennedy Owino, Immanuel Bundi and Kewal Patel.

Asiji said they are seeking to reclaim the title from Uganda who beat them in the final last year.
The event will feature four countries from east and central Africa among them hosts Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda.

Full story at Kenya Broadcasting Corporation’s site.

Three Singapore cricketers are off to Perth in Australia to fast-track their improvement.

Chetan Suryawanshi, Shoib Razzak and Pramodh Raja will play in the Western Australian Cricket Association League until early March, before returning to the local league.

Suryawanshi and Shoib will start off in Grade 2, while Raja will play Grade 3.

In June, in another of its overseas exposure programmes, the SCA sent seven players to Chennai, India, for a 10-day training course.

'We are committed to raising the standard of the national team, and one of the best ways is to send them off to Australia, where the competition is stiff,'' said Singapore Cricket Association deputy president Mahmood Gaznavi, who also chairs the development committee.

Read the full story at The Strait Times.

Brunei's Under-15 side is heading off to Bangkok to take part in the Asian Cricket Council U-15 Challenge Cup. They are in the same group as Maldives and Qatar. The Borneo Bulletin has the full story.

Airline tickets to Jersey and inclusion in the World Cricket League Division Five tournament in May 2008 await two of three teams contesting the ICC East Asia Pacific Trophy at Auckland’s Waikaraka Park on Saturday. 

After the fourth round of matches was abandoned on Thursday, all fifth round matches were played on Friday, meaning the results from the replay of the abandoned fourth round matches will determine the two teams to travel to Europe in six months.  

Cook Islands routed Samoa after a shaky start in their 40 overs contest. Recovering from a precarious 44 for 5, Cook Islands were rescued by middle order hero Jon Kairua's half-century which ensured his sides’ bowlers had something to defend at the break. The final five wickets realised a further 98 precious runs to set Samoa a target of 143. Within six overs the Samoan innings was in tatters at 15 for 5 and never recovered to finish at 36. Joseph Joe and Tino Etita took three wickets for under 10 runs apiece and Dunu Eliaba took 2 for 10.

Vanuatu recovered from 107 for 6 to set Indonesia 237 to claim their first victory. Simpson Obed made 74 not out and Edy Mansale 50 batting at seven to right the ship and their partnership of 117 for the seventh wicket was the turning point of the match. Indonesia lost early wickets and succumbed for 74. Vanuatu must win their match against Tonga on Saturday to remain in the hunt for inclusion in the WCL Division Five tournament.

In the final game, Tonga played out a thriller against Japan, failing by 17 runs to defeat the unbeaten Japanese after being set 155 in 39 overs to win their second match. Japan remain unbeaten but are still to be confirmed as one of the top two teams. Their match against Cook Islands on Saturday is therefore crucial to both sides.

Mexico, the host country, captured the second Central America Championship with wins against Costa Rica and El Salvador, who were playing their first ever internationals. Costa Rica defeated El Salvador, with Ben Smith making 102 of the 253 runs then rolling them for 81, to finish second.

The tournament gives developing affiliates and new territories an opportunity to gain valuable experience and it is a stepping stone for the lowest ranked affiliates to the Americas Division 3 competition.

A spokesman for El Salvador said they had really enjoyed the experience. “We have enthusiasm and some kind donations with which nets and an artificial pitch can be purchased. With better training facilities and more experience we hope to improve and get to the standard where we are in a position to win some games.”

Auckland’s weather had the final say on day four of the EAP Trophy with two matches abandoned without a ball being bowled and a 26-over match between the first- and second-placed sides abandoned when the sides were taken from the field by the umpires six overs before a Duckworth-Lewis calculation would have provided a result.
 

Japan’s decision to field was rewarded when Cook Islands' innings disintegrated from a position of relative strength at 71 for 4 to a calamitous 79. Patrick Giles-Jones (3 for 11), Takura Hagihara (3 for 15) and Masanori Abe (3 for 24) were the destroyers.

Japan’s patient response was understandable chasing such a moderate target, but may have ultimately cost them the chance of taking both points on offer in the match. With light rain falling late in the day, Cook Islands captain Chris Brown protested to the umpires that his bowlers were at risk of injury due to the underfoot conditions and after a lengthy deliberation the covers were called for. Twenty minutes later the match was abandoned as the time available was no longer enough to bowl the six overs to reach the 20 required to constitute a match.

Israel will have their first ever cricketer present at an International Cricket Council (ICC) Academy following the call-up of Solomon Varsulkar, reports the Totally Jewish website. Click here for the full story.

The third round of the ICC EAP Cricket Trophy threw the tournament wide open with Japan now the only undefeated team, while Vanuatu made it two wins in two. 

Japan were given a fright, though, by Samoa before shooting to the top of the table with a 33-run win. Courtney Jones (72) and Munir Ahmad (64) led a middle-order recovery to bring Japan back from a precarious 3 for 16 after 7. Faave Faaofo (3 for 43 off 10 overs) and Konelio Faillagi (2 for 22) did the damage for Samoa at the top of the innings, however Japan managed to scrap their way to the competitive total of 9 for 220.

Samoa’s innings started in a similar fashion, with four early wickets. Captain Geoff Clarke (18) and Sipiliano Tua (92) built a solid partnership in the middle of the innings that gave Samoa a chance. Naoki Miyaji (5 for 32) had other ideas, however as he tore through Samoa’s tail to lead Japan to their third consecutive win.

Vanuatu beat Cook Islands in a tense, low-scoring affair. Cook Islands bowled first on a pitch that offered the pacemen some assistance. The in-form Andrew Mansale started positively with 31, however Richard Tatwin proved the mainstay in Vanuatu’s 167 with 51. Tino Etita was the chief destroyer with 5 for 16. Vanuatu skipper Patrick Haines (4 for 27) lead from the front with an aggressive opening spell that wrestled back the momentum. Joseph Joe (34) and Chris Brown (24) offered some resistance before Pierre Chilia (3 for 22) returned to claim the final wicket and leave the Cook Islands 44 runs shy of the required target.

Tonga trumped Indonesia in the highest scoring match of the tournament to date. Livi’aetau Pese (69) and Ivan Ta’akimoeaka (38) got Tonga off to a flying start after they chose to bat. Solid contributions from the rest boosted them to 262. Courtenay Werleman and Simon Turnbull both took three wickets. Werleman (44) and Pratyush Chaturvedi (75) took Indonesia within striking distance before pulling up 20 short after three run-outs and Mafi Langi’s 5 for 65.

The ongoing drama that is the USA Cricket Association shows no sign of ending despite the hope expressed by Chris Dehring, the independent third party appointed to try to find a solution to the imbroglio.

Last Friday (November 30) Dehring wrote to stakeholders to advise them that after months of negotiations the new constitution had been released for ratification. He said: "I recommend this new constitution to you as a solid foundation to take US cricket forward."

But those hopes might come to nothing after a scathing attack on the new constitution by Atul Rai, the man who preceded Gladstone Dainty as the USACA president.

Click here for the full story

	Singapore's captain Rezza Gaznavi receives the ACC Under-15 Elite Cup © ACC

The Asian Cricket Council had taken drastic action on Saturday and kicked out hosts and defending champions Nepal as well as Afghanistan, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Malaysia, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Thailand after its medical board reported that all the squads from those countries contained players over the stipulated age limit. Sunday's semi-finals - Nepal v Singapore and Afghanistan v Hong Kong - were scrapped.

Click here for the full story.

Vanuatu recorded their first victory of the ICC EAP Cricket Trophy in Auckland, with a win on the second day, while Japan and the Cook Islands continued their winning form. 

Vanuatu bounced back from their Round 1 defeat with a comfortable victory against Samoa. The young side made 200 for 9 after being sent in, with opening batsman Frederick Timakata (44) topscoring. Konelio Faillagi (3 for 23 off 10 overs) was the pick of the Samoan bowlers who toiled hard on a good batting surface. Samoa’s run-chase started disastrously and never really recovered despite a plucky 55 from Ben Mailata. Samoa were eventually dismissed for 108 in the 26th over. The fast bowler Kenneth Natapei (2 for 10 off 7 overs) was well supported by spinners Andrew Mansale (3 for 23 off 4 overs) and Simpson Obed (2 for 2 off 1.1 overs) in an even bowling display. 

Tonga batted against the Cook Islands but were on the back foot when Dunu Eliaba (4 for 15 off 6 overs) claimed the first of four wickets in the fifth over. Sione Holi (31) provided some middle-order resistance before Eliaba and fellow paceman Chris Brown (3 for 16 off 5.1 overs) returned to dismiss Tonga for 101 in only the 26th over. Cook Islands made light work of the run-chase in just 15 overs. Eliaba (28no) completed a Man of the Match double with Pita Glassie (31) and Tino Etita (21no) also chipping in.

Japan joined the Cook Islands on the undefeated list with an impressive 8-wicket victory against Indonesia. Opening bowler Patrick Giles-Jones (3 for 15 off 7 overs) had Indonesia reeling at 4 for 38 and Indonesia were eventually dismissed for 105. Japan's opening batsman Gavin Beath (53) wasted no time in chasing the small total with a swashbuckling half-century that included eight fours and one six. Masaomi Kobayashi (23 not out) continued his good form from Round 1 to guide Japan over the line.

Japan, Cook Islands and Samoa recorded strong wins in the opening round of the ICC EAP Cricket Trophy in Auckland.

Japan dismissed Vanuatu for 142 inside 35 overs. Vanuatu lost both openers early leaving Andrew Mansale (79 off 97) to rescue the innings, but he found little support. Mansale's 3 for 9 then gave them a glimmer, but Tetsuo Fuji (27 not out) and Munir Ahmed (26 not out) took Japan home in the 40th over to complete a five-wicket win.

Cook Islands bowled strongly and took regular wickets against Indonesia, dismissing them for 148 in the 44th over. Chris Brown (3 for 25 off 8 overs) and Mou Maururai (3 for 29 off 8.5 overs) were the stand-out bowlers. Joseph Joe took them home, with an unbeaten 44, although he was dropped early on.

Samoa won the battle of the Pacific rivals, beating Tonga by 89 runs. Opening bowler Mafi Langi (3 for 38 off 10 overs) claimed early wickets for Tonga, however Uala Kaisala (54 off 88) led the recovery where Samoa reached 191. Tonga started their run chase cautiously and were unable to build momentum, losing regular wickets. Winston Marriner took the honours with 3 for 33 off 5 overs to wrap up the innings with Tonga all out for 102 in the 32nd over.

UAE underlined their ambition to take part in the 2011 World Cup by winning the World Cricket League Division Two tournament in Namibia, defeating Oman in the final. Denmark and Namibia also booked their place in the 2009 Qualifer, but Uganda and Argentina finished in the bottom two and were relegated back to Division Three.

Click here for Cricinfo’s full coverage of the tournament.

Fans and players hailing from Australia, India, Pakistan, South Africa and the West Indies are finding common ground as immigrants in Houston through cricket.

"What the West Indian teams are working on here is more than just cricket — we're trying to leave a legacy of who we are in Houston," said a philosophical Eccles, a senior gas and oil refinery consultant and a Houston West Indies Cricket player on his days off. "We're making our voices heard with our play."

The robust amateur league of weekend warriors will celebrate its 21st championship title match today, weather permitting. The game is to start at 9 a.m. and will include the Memorial Cricket Club, a diverse mix of South Africans, South Asians, Zimbabweans and West Indians. MCC will take on the Houston Cougars Sports Club, a predominantly Pakistani team of doctors, engineers and gas station owners. Many of them graduated from the University of Houston. Hence, the name.

The winner doesn't get a cash prize — just a big trophy and bragging rights that last a year. During the championship match, the players will break for lunch, a time-honored tradition, and will sit down together for a meal that will consist of what has become the universal grub for most of the British commonwealth: Indian food.

"Cricket for me is my childhood passion, it is like a religion in India," said Yogesh Patel, 59, who is the league's current president and who arrived in Houston in the 1970s. "Back home, I would never have gotten the flavor of the Caribbean culture, I would never have gotten a chance to play with South Africans. Here, this is all possible."

Read the full story at the Houston Chronicle.

While many senior clubs outside the main cricket countries play on artificial wickets, few play on artificial outfields, but that might happen in the Netherlands.

A report on Cricket Europe suggests that Hoofdklasse club HBS Den Haag may be forced to do just that as a result of the local authorities wanting to lay artificial football pitches over the main cricket ground. If the work goes ahead, it is likely to be completed in time for the 2008 season. The club maintains that every step has been taken to ensure the outfield is not too bouncy and is not to hard on diving fielders.

Such outfields are allowed in lower leagues in the country, but it seems likely that there will be opposition to HBS Den Haag's proposal, although there are signs that the national board will back the scheme.

Such a situation occurred in England in the 1990s after artificial hockey pitches were laid on the outfield of a Surrey club. But it was deeply unpopular with players, mainly because even the best surface is hard on feet and bodies, and the club actually folded after a couple of years because members left to join sides with grass outfields.

A cricket game in Florida ended when one of the players shot an opponent with a semi-automatic rifle.

The UPI agency reported that Devan Bascom shot Francis Singh in the abdomen after he was threatened him with a cricket bat following a heated argument in the match in Orlando. In a rather bizarre comment, police said that while Bascom appeared to be acting in self defence, the presence of a gun at a game was “unusual”.

"The shooter was defending himself from an attack with a cricket bat which is similar to a baseball bat, but it's flat," a spokesman said. "For this man to bring a firearm to a sporting event is odd but then again, he has the right to do so. He has a concealed weapons permit and if, in fact, he was protecting himself, he was authorized by law to do so."

Bascom was questioned by police but not arrested while Singh underwent an operation and was reported to be in a stable condition.

The Nairobi Provincial Cricket Association was plunged into another crisis with the resignation of Nilesh Lakhani from the executive.

Lakhani, who is chairman of the Parklands club, is seen as one of the people within the NPCA who actually gets things done, and his resignation will be a serious blow to the credibility of the already beleaguered executive. The NPCA has already lost its chairman and secretary this year.

Martin Williamson also warns that the stakeholders' meeting in Nairobi threatens to be overshadowed by the ongoing row, and that the Nairobi executives are making outlandish claims to mask their own failings.

Some of the accusations are ridiculous, others scurrilous, but they all have one purpose - to deflect attention from the glaring issues inside the NPCA. Those at the helm of the NPCA know that the more mud they can sling, the greater the disharmony and the better their chances of clinging to office.

It has to be hoped that the stakeholders' meeting does not allow those running the NPCA to drag it into the dirt and that it addresses the more important issues facing Kenyan cricket. If it does, then it should be a most productive two days.

And it also has to be hoped that CK receives the backing of stakeholders to move in and remove the remnants of the NPCA executive and to hold fresh elections as soon as possible. For Kenyan cricket to move forward, it needs a strong NPCA and not one run by people whose only aim is self preservation.