The 2011 Women's World Cup Qualifier will feature 10 teams and be played at four venues in Dhaka, the ICC has said. The tournament is scheduled between November 14 and 25.

The four venues will be the Sher-e-Bangla stadium, Narayanganj Osmani Stadium, Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan (Bangladesh Institute of Sports) 1 and BKSP 2. Hosts Bangladesh will be joined by South Africa, Sri Lanka, Netherlands, Zimbabwe, USA, West Indies, Pakistan, Ireland and Japan to battle it out for the four remaining spots at the 2013 Women's World Cup in India. England, Australia, India and New Zealand already qualified for the event because they were the top four teams in the 2009 Women's World Cup.

The teams for the qualifiers will be split into two groups. Bangladesh play Pakistan in the first game of the tournament on November 14 at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium.

Group A
South Africa, Sri Lanka, Netherlands, Zimbabwe, USA

Group B
West Indies, Pakistan, Ireland, Japan, Bangladesh

After four consecutive days of hot weather, the sky opened up and consistent rain greeted the players as Japan and Papua New Guinea took the field for the East Asia-Pacific Women's Trophy final. Japan captain Ema Kuribayashi won her fourth toss in a row, electing to bat first against an experienced PNG line-up.

Japan found the conditions difficult at the start, and coupled with an outstanding spell of bowling from PNG opening bowlers Pauke Siaka and Tanya Ruma, found themselves at 36-1 after 20 overs when play was stopped due to rain.

Play resumed briefly after the first rain delay, but the skies opened again soon after leaving Japan only 42 overs to bat. Ema Kuribayashi (21) was run out soon after the resumption of play, bringing the reliable Katrina Keenan to the crease, however when partner Kurumi was dismissed without scoring, Japan were struggling at 53-4.

Keenan began patiently, pushing singles and running well between wickets, before unleashing an almighty attack on all bowlers towards the end of the innings that included five boundaries and two enormous sixes.

Keenan was finally dismissed for a spectacular 60, and Japan was able to post a respectable 125-5 at the end of its 42 overs. After Duckworth-Lewis calculations, PNG was given a target of 132 to win from its 42 overs, a total made all the more difficult due to the unfriendly conditions.

However, PNG openers Mabel Ipi and Norma Ovasuru started particularly well, edging to 42 without loss before Ovasuru was dismissed leg before to Ema Kuribayashi. While the score was continuing to tick along, wickets were falling at regular intervals, and when PNG captain Ura Rigana was caught for 12 off the bowling of Ayako Nakayama, PNG was reduced to 68-4.

Boni David (15) and opener Mabel Ipi continued to score consistently, however when Ipi was caught leg before wicket off the bowling of Kuribayashi, the game was in the balance.

With Japan operating spinners from both ends, PNG was finding it difficult to force the pace, and the runs began to dry up.
Kuribayashi bowled an outstanding spell, supported well by young legspinner Ayako Nakayama, and the two combined to choke PNG to 123-9, requiring nine to win from the final Kuribayashi over.

Number 11 Nao Kone hit the second ball high and deep into the outfield, where one of Japan's best fielders, Mariko Yamamoto, was waiting to accept the catch, giving them victory by nine runs.

Keenan was adjudged Player of the tournament. Japan will now progress to the ICC Women's World Cup ualifier, while Papua New Guinea and Samoa will have to wait until the 2012 East Asia Pacific regional tournament.

Team of the Tournament: Ema Kuribayashi (Japan), Norma Ovasuru (PNG), Mariko Yamamoto (Japan), Melinda Hodgson (Samoa), Katrina Keenan (Japan), Ura Rigana (PNG), Lily Mulivai (Samoa), Varoi Morea (PNG), Pauke Siaka (PNG), Ayako Nakayama (Japan), Tanya Ruma (PNG), Regina Lilii (Samoa)

Tony Munro

The Japan Cricket Association intends to submit an application to be included in the cricket sector of the 2010 Asian Games.

The Guangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee (GAGOC) has asked countries who wish to take part in the tournament to make a submission and it will then decide which countries will participate.

CricInfo understands the GAGOC has not yet decided how many countries will feature in the tournament, although the Asian Cricket Council had at one stage suggested the men's event be confined to eight teams - the four Test-playing countries, the hosts China and three non-Test qualifiers.

Indonesia has decided against submitting an application. "We think we are still not ready to compete in such an elite tournament and we would need to spend a substantial amount of funds in getting our team ready for this tournament and we do not have such funds," said Indonesia Cricket Foundation president Prakash Vijaykumar.

Japan will be the only country from the ICC's East Asia-Pacific development zone to apply to take part. The two other countries who are members of the Asian Olympic Committee, South Korea and the Philippines, have not competed in recent regional cricket tournaments. Japan is listed 40th in the ICC's world rankings. It has finished in the top three of the medal count at every Asian Games.

A strong MCC side completed their tour of Japan with wins in all four matches. They beat Sano CC, a Japanese Development XI and the national side in Twenty20 games, and rounded things off with a tight two-wicket defeat of Japan in a 50-over match.

Japan had every chance to win the limited-overs game after reducing MCC to 60 for 6 chasing 137 but a seventh-wicket stand between Gary Brown (46*) and Guy Bulpitt (26) enabled the tourists to sneak home.

The MCC squad completes the trip with games in Indonesia.

Papua New Guinea continued their dominance in Apia with another convincing win to take the World Cricket League section of the East Asia Pacific (EAP) Trophy.

From day one Papua New Guinea have exuded class, professionalism and a team-first attitude to be by far the best team in the EAP Region. Led superbly by rookie captain Chris Amini, Papua New Guinea again excelled today, knocking over Japan for just 60. Amini was the standout, grabbing 3 for 6, well supported by Loa Nou (2 for 18 from nine overs) and young leg-spinner Vali Albert (1 for 15). In reply, Papua New Guinea chased down the required 61 in just 7.1 overs, with star opener Vani Vagi Morea smashing an unbeaten 41.

In the all-important round 5 clash of the non-World Cricket League competition, Vanuatu were looking to continue their unbeaten run against a Cook Islands team desperate to notch another win and progress to the final ahead of Samoa. Cook Islands began well, with Etita and Tangimatua putting together a partnership of 51, before Kenni Tari got the all important breakthrough of Etita to a skied outfield catch by Damian Smith. From there the Vanuatu bowlers applied excellent pressure, with medium-pacer Edy Mansale (2 for 25) and his younger brother Andrew (3 for 25) bowling particularly well. Cook Islands eventually dismissed for a disappointing 119. In reply, Vanuatu aptain Andrew Mansale followed up his century in round 4 with a stylish 47, while allrounder Jonathon Dunn steered the team home with an unbeaten 31.

In the final match, Tonga and Indonesia went head to head with both desperate to take their first points of the competition and make the third v fourth play-off. Indonesia won the toss and elected to bat, and following from a solid batting performance in round 4, were looking to again get above the 200-run mark. Unfortunately, the Indonesians were unable to hold firm against star pace duo Mafi Langi (4 for 22) and Simione Latu (4 for 33), crumbling to 29 for 5, before eventually being dismissed for 112 in the 33rd over. Indonesian wicketkeeper Thenuara was the only batsman to show resistance with a fighting 37. Tonga began their chase poorly, losing Holi and Mau with the score on 21, before inspirational captain Aisake Haukina strode to the crease with only one intention, to hit the ball hard and far. Haukinima looked at ease at the crease before unleashing against spinner Gede Suda Arsa, smashing three sixes, including two in consecutive balls, before finally being bowled for a quick-fire 34. Moala (43) and Valu (21*) added to the scoring spree, the Tongans passing the required target in just 14 overs.

Scores
Papua New Guinea def. Japan by 10 wickets

Japan 60 (33 overs) (N Miyaji 18*, T Fuji 12; C Amini 3-6)

PNG 61-1 (7.1 overs) (V Morea 41*)

Tonga def. Indonesia by 6 wickets

Indonesia 112 (32.4 overs) (A Thenuara 37; M Langi 4-22, 4-33)

Tonga 116-4 (14 overs) (F Moala 43, A Haukinima 34, M Valu 21*)

Vanuatu def. Cook Islands by 7 wickets

Cook Islands 119 (38.3 overs) (T Etita 42; A Mansale 3-25, P Haines 3-38, E Mansale 2-25) Vanuatu 122-3 (18.1 overs) (A Mansale 47, J Dunn 31*; T Etita 2-36)

Japan coach Richard Laidler

We are all delighted to secure our status in the ICC World Cricket League Division 7 after today’s victory over Gibraltar.

The result is great reward for all the hard work put in by the team in the past few years, many of whom used all their annual leave just to play in the tournament.

You may be wondering how an Australian managed to become coach of the Japan cricket side. A few years ago I was living in Darwin doing some coaching and I was selling cars. One of my friends went to Japan to coach and then came back for personal reasons.

He asked me whether I fancied going to Japan to coach cricket for three months, which then became a year, and I have now been there seven years and absolutely love the place.

The role is part-time, as my full-time job is with a company that teaches sports with English. I started with a handful of kids and I now have about a hundred 9-19 year olds playing cricket which is great.

It is a great challenge to try and spread Australia’s enthusiasm for cricket to Japan, but I do think there could be great passion for the sport, as baseball is very popular and some of the principles are the same. People in the country just need to have a chance to see the likes of Ricky Ponting and Andrew Flintoff.

Japanese cricket is beginning to get some good structures in place, we have a full-time Chief Executive (who also plays for the team), and our policy of only having four non-Japanese born players in the side means there are great opportunities for local people to play in an international tournament and represent their country.

One of the great challenges for us is that cricket is quite an expensive sport for people to play and it also takes a lot of time for people to travel to matches. We are very dependent on money from the ICC as it is difficult to attract sponsorship.

Cricket Victoria, who partners with us, helps us out by sending over development officers each year and they also send us some equipment. They do as much as they can but obviously they can only do so much for us.

I am also lucky that I can call on the advice of a cricketing legend whenever I need. Merv Hughes is a big mate of mine and we played against each other for a long, long time.

He is a real character and helps me out with lots of things and gives me some good coaching advice and I always try and pass this onto the boys.

Our last match at this event is against Nigeria tomorrow, who we lost to in our opening game, so it would be nice to finish the tournament on a high.

Bahrain sealed their place in the World Cricket League Division 6 in Singapore after a comfortable 196-run over Japan in Port Soif. Recovering from yet another top-order collapse at 24 for 4, when Patrick Giles-Jones picked up another five-for after the seven he took the previous day, half-centuries from Qamar Saeed (75 not out), Adil Hanif (73) and Ashraf Yaqoob (51) lifted them to 260. In reply, Japan couldn't face up to the Bahrain attack, capitulating to 64, as Naeem Amin, Qamar and Yaser Sadeq remarkably finished with the same bowling figures of 3 for 15.

Mohsin Kamal, the Bahrain coach, was delighted with the achievement. "Everybody is delighted as we have achieved the main target that we set ourselves before we had come here," Kamal said. "Our other target is to try and win the final on Sunday. We have qualified for Division 6 and everybody hopes we can continue to progress to the top."

Click here for a full report from yesterday's other matches

The opening day of the ICC World Cricket League Division 7 tournament in Guernsey was almost entirely washed out by persistent rain.

Two matches did get underway before being abandoned - Bahrain were wobbling on 52 for 4 against Gibraltar and Japan were 28 for 1 against Guernsey. The game between Suriname and Nigeria did not even get started.

Tuesday is scheduled to be a rest day and it is possible the organisers might replay today’s matches then.

Japan coach Richard Laidler is hopeful that his side can do well in the World Cricket League Division 7 tournament which gets underway on Sunday in Guernsey.

“I am looking forward to coming back to the Channel Islands. It is always exciting to play in international competition as we don’t get much recognition in Japan,” said Laidler. “To give the boys a chance to show how cricket is a global sport is fantastic and we are looking forward to playing in the event. I really hope we can finish first or second and go into Division 6. After playing in Jersey last year we had a chance to understand the standard that we are actually up against and we know what we will have to come up against.”

Laidler admitted that Afghanistan’s recent success, having risen from Division 5 last year to gaining ODI status in the recent ICC World Cricket League, was a great inspiration to Associate and Affiliate members.

“It is a fantastic story and the competition is really well done by the ICC as it does give teams a chance to go up the rankings. Being from the EAP region we used to only play against the same teams, but we are now getting an opportunity to play against everybody, and that gives you a lot of encouragement if you want to play better teams,” said Laidler.

Having played in similar conditions at the Division 5 event last year in Jersey, Laidler is hopeful that his side can learn from its experiences and apply them to the pitch conditions it will face in Guernsey.

“I am expecting Guernsey’s facilities to be as good or even better than Jersey. We learnt quite a bit about the wickets last year, as we are used to playing on harder wickets, while the wickets over there were a bit slower and held up a bit. We know what we are up against now.”

Japan Women have received a huge financial boost with the announcement of a major sponsor in Altech, a beverage technology and equipment company. The news comes ahead of the team’s preparations for the Shanghai International Sixes tournament later this
year.

Last year, they competed very successfully and the players made a real impression on many of the sponsors and officials with their competitiveness and positive demeanour on and off the field.

A seminar for the ICC’s East Asia – Pacific (EAP) Development Program kicked off today in Melbourne. The five-day course is “a key component in the process to achieve sustainable cricket education within the EAP region and includes an ICC Level 1 coaching Cricket Instructors Course,” the statement read.

Nine highly regarded coaches were selected from an extremely strong pool to attend. The participants are:

PNG John Ovia & Rarua Dikana

Vanuatu Richard Tatwin and Aby Joel John
Japan Jummei Hanada & Nigel Dixon
Fiji Seci Sekinini
Indonesia Melvin Ndoen
Tonga Sione Hamala

The ICC EAP have been able to gain access to world-class facilities through Cricket Australia, Cricket Victoria and the Melbourne Cricket Club.

The ICC EAP Strategic Plan has a strong focus on developing quality cricket coaches in the EAP region, and the Advanced Coaching & Development Seminar is a major part of building sustainable coach development practises.

Naoki Miyaji

The Japanese season, which extends from April to October, is well under way. Not only have the domestic competitions been in full swing, but Japan has had two tours from Australia’s Melbourne CC and the Ned Flanders XI from Queensland. The men’s national team has also taken part in the World Cricket League Division 5.

Robert Walters Japan KK continued their support of the men’s national team and enabled them to play in full coloured clothing for the first time.

The women’s national team will tour Shanghai in September, where they will take part in the six-a-side tournament, and will also play international matches against China and other touring nations. The Greg Chappell Cricket Centre Player of the Year Awards will be awarded at the annual JCA Awards in November to the best performed Japanese player in domestic and international cricket.

Japan one-day Championship (J1C)

1st Grade

Ichihara Sharks CC are top of the table but with four teams only one win behind. There have been many matches washed out due to rain, and with many a host of games still to come in August, the final standings are extremely unpredictable. The four top teams will advance to the semi-finals.

2nd Grade

University XI managed to surprise Paddy Foley’s CC and Adore CC surprised Fuji Far East CC are the joint leaders. The four top teams will advance to the semi-finals. The winner of 2nd Grade will automatically be promoted to 1st Grade in 2009. The runners up of 2nd Grade will also get a chance of promotion in the play-offs.

Japan Women’s One Day Cricket Championship

Adore CC and L-Wyverns CC have both made winner starts. The two are sure to prove to be the greatest threat to FLFL CC, the defending champions.

University Championship (Men)

Tokyo University of Technology CC are just ahead but have played more matches than the rest of the league. Chuo University CC and Aoyama Gakuin University CC are both unbeaten and have a good chance.

University Championship (Women)

Tokyo University of Technology CC is dominating and will be looking to finish unbeaten.

Japan Cup

A men’s knockout tournament will be held for the first time starting on September 15

Japan Women’s Cricket Tournament

The knockout tournament for the women’s clubs across Japan will be played August 23 and 24.

Next week's ICC annual get-together promises to have more than its fair share of politicking, posturing and controversy. But, unless there is a major about-turn, it should also be a watershed for the Associates and Affiliates.

In 2009, income from the ICC's six-year media deal with ESPN-Star, worth over US$1 billion, kicks in, and while the game's big boys will still keep the lion's share, the rest will see substantial increases in their incomes.

Although the ICC draws considerable flak on many fronts, it is quietly committed to promoting the game in as many countries as possible, and it does that by means of a myriad of competitions and initiatives. Most do not warrant much media attention, but they are there and they work.

Until now, the gripe of the smaller countries, and especially those bubbling just underneath the top flight, has been about the inequality of the way in which the game is financed. That was never more apparent than when it came to earnings from last year's World Cup.

Ireland got a flat fee of US$125,000 a year for four years for taking part, and on top of that they received another $50,000 for reaching the Super Eights. However, because of the extra costs involved in their progression, not least because their players are not professional cricketers and their absences from their full-time jobs had to be underwritten, Ireland's success actually left the board out of pocket.

Zimbabwe, on the other hand, turned up, tied with Ireland and never threatened to progress after being thumped by Pakistan and West Indies. For those three matches, Zimbabwe Cricket received US$11 million, their share of the pot as a Full Member.

The top six Associates receive no more than US$500,000 a year - some substantially less - to fund their entire operations. Out of that they have to pay all their cricketing and administration costs. Only those with a low cost of living, such as Kenya, can hope to maintain a professional squad on that kind of money.

The gulf between the haves and have-nots is further widened by the limited sums Associates can earn from sponsorship and media contracts. Zimbabwe can exploit home series against, say, India to carve out lucrative TV deals worth millions, and on the back of that, attract shirt- and other corporate sponsorship. As highlighted by Scotland's failure to secure any TV deal for their forthcoming ODI against England, the Associates struggle to get such income streams.

The new deals will provide a substantial increase for Associates, especially for the countries who are pressing for space at the top table. Until now the share has been roughly equal, rewarding Netherlands and Kenya on par with Thailand and Fiji. The new system will see more demarcation between the top Associates and the rest.

The leading ten could earn as much as US$1.5 million a year from 2009. There will then be an onus on them to professionalise their administrations, but several of them are already well down that route. They will also be more accountable - the ICC does not want a repeat of the mess that came following a spike in Kenya's funding earlier in the decade.

The second-string Associates will also get more - around US$160,000 as a base figure - but then again the demands on them are less. Even Affiliates will receive US$15,000, with the opportunity for more should they make a good enough case. There will also be more cash in the pot for participating and hosting competitions.

There have never been more opportunities for development outside the Full Member countries, but there remain some nagging worries.

The main one is how to bridge the gap between semi and full-blown professionalism. Almost all the Associates rely on dedicated amateurs, both on and off the field. As the number of ICC competitions has increased - and they have to be welcomed - the pressure has begun to tell. Scotland and Ireland particularly have already found players cannot meet all their commitments, and even the increased income will not allow them to employ a full-time squad.

"So much of putting players on full-time retainers depends on how many fixtures we can command," Warren Deutrom, Cricket Ireland's chief executive, said. "At the moment, all we can promise the squad in 2009 is a World Cup qualifying campaign, eight FP Trophy matches, an England game, and probably some Intercontinental Cup matches. Of course, we hope to have more, but can't be sure at the moment.

"Our top players are already plying their trade in county cricket, while others have full-time jobs which they may not wish to give up. The actual number of players that the coach will want to put on a full-time contract, or else the number that even want to have one, may not be that many."

The other quandary is how to get them fixtures. Kenya, widely regarded as the leading Associate, have found it almost impossible to get Full Member countries to visit or host them. As a result they invariably play other Associates. Good for the win-loss ratio, not so clever in providing the kind of experience that no amount of money can buy.

These issues will need to be addressed, but for now the future has never looked so promising beyond the Test world.

It may be three long years years away, but the road to the 2011 World Cup begins this week in the unlikely setting of Jersey. More famed for its cattle and potatoes than a venue for cricket tournaments, Jersey plays host to 12 of the world's lesser-known teams in Division 5 of the World Cricket League (WCL), as they battle to climb the ladder to the fourth division and dream of a World Cup place in Asia.

Will Luke previews Division 5 of the World Cricket League which gets underway this week.

	Japanese leg spinner Kenji Murata at Fuji Cricket Ground in Fuji © Mainichi Daily News

With the ICC World Cricket League Division Five set to take place in Jersey in May, the Mainichi Daily News has an interesting article on Japan’s preparations for the tournament.

Naoki Alex Miyaji typically opens the bowling for Japan, but that's not the only way the 29-year-old son of a Japanese father and Scottish mother bends his back on behalf of the game in this country. He's also the CEO of the Japan Cricket Association (JCA), an NPO entrusted with the task of promoting the world's second-most popular participation sport in a land where, for the majority, Cricket is the name of a fashion label.

Despite the iconic surroundings of the playing headquarters at the foot of the country's most sacred peak and bullet trains hurtling past at regular intervals, Fuji Cricket Ground is also symbolic of the state of the game's status in Japan. Its two pitches are among no more than a handful found throughout the entire country. And they're located about 150 kilometers from the center of Tokyo, making a trip there a costly effort in terms of both time and money, an even greater drain considering the core of the game here revolves around university student players.

Nonetheless, Japanese cricket is making inroads. Miyaji estimates there are about 2,000 senior and junior cricket players in competitions that include expatriate-centered and university leagues. JCA has branches in Kanto, Kansai, Hokkaido and Shikoku. Nationwide, almost 6,000 boys and girls have been taught about the sport.

The number of people actively participating in cricket outside the Test-playing countries increased 17% in 2007, according to the ICC.

The research, carried out by the ICC's development program, was collated from 33 Associate and 58 Affiliate members. It showed that there were 338,051 male and female players in those countries in 2007, an increase of 49,158 on the previous year. Since 2002, when there were 144,047 participants, there has been a 135% rise.

Click here for the full story.

The first chief executive of Japan will be Naoki Alex Miyaji. He has now commenced his full-time position and is, say the ICC, working hard to continue to break new ground in developing cricket in Japan.

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.

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.

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.

The ICC East Asia–Pacific (EAP) Development Program has announced its squads for the Centre of Excellence in Brisbane in November.

Twelve young players have been selected for the EAP Emerging Players Program, and 16 for the squad camp which will bring together the region’s best players ahead of the Australian country cricket championship in Mackay, Queensland this January. This means players from Cook Islands, Fiji, Japan, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu.

Both squads will experience a week of intensive coaching, training and skill development under the tutelage of Australia’s leading coaches. Each squad will play Twenty20 and 50-over one-day matches against local opposition in Brisbane.

Emerging players squad

Colin Amini (PNG), Arua Dikana (PNG), Willie Gavera (PNG), Masaomi Kobayashi (Japan), Trevor Langa (Vanuatu), Jacob Mado (PNG), Simpson Obed (Vanuatu), Pritchard Pritchard (Samoa), Sekove Ravoka (Fiji), Salesi Tu’Akoi (Tonga), Tony Ura (PNG), Vani Vagi Morea (PNG)

Squad camp

Chris Amini (PNG), Hitolo Areni (PNG), Kapena Arua (PNG), Inoa Baeau (PNG), Jamie Brazier (PNG), Tatsuro Chino (Japan), Mahuru Dai (PNG), Rarua Dikana (PNG), Dunu Eliaba (Cook Islands), Mahuta Kivung (PNG), Andrew Mansale (Vanuatu), Ipi Morea (PNG), Loa Nou (PNG), John Ovia (PNG), Josefa Rika (Fiji), Assad Vala (PNG)

The ICC East Asia - Pacific (EAP) office have confirmed the dates for the 2007 ICC EAP U-19 World Cup Qualifier hosted by Vanuatu Cricket Association in Port Vila. The tournament will take place from July 17 to 24, 2007.

Confirmed countries participating in this tournament are Fiji, Japan, Papua New Guinea and tournament hosts Vanuatu, with the winner earning direct entry to the 2008 Under-19 World Cup.

ICC EAP Regional Development Manager, Mr Matt Weisheit reported "We are delighted that Vanuatu will be hosting this significant ICC East Asia - Pacific U-19 tournament in July 2007. For Vanuatu, this follows the successful staging of the 2005 EAP Cricket Cup tournament and we see this tournament as building on the progress Vanuatu is making in terms of cricket development both on and off the field.

"With the winner of this EAP tournament progressing directly to the U19 Cricket World Cup means that this will be a hotly contested tournament. The lure of participating in a World Cup will provide significant motivation for the Countries involved and as such this is one of the major tournaments on the 2007 EAP Cricket Calendar".

Vanuatu Cricket Association (VCA) President, Mr Mark Stafford, said that the tournament will provide a valuable boost for the growth of the sport in Vanuatu. "We have focussed on developing our junior cricket programs and structures, and hosting the ICC EAP U-19's World Cup qualifier complements our ambitions to cultivate a strong junior base. This will provide us an opportunity to improve our ability to compete internationally and also promote the sport locally.

"It is imperative that we secure government and corporate support for this tournament, as there are a number of areas that Vanuatu cricket needs to improve in. Besides, the importance of a strong on-field performance, it is also necessary for us to improve our facilities and enhance our reputation as a well organised cricket organisation, to achieve this we need community involvement and support."

It won't get many column inches in the mainstream cricket press, but the World Cricket League, which started in Nairobi yesterday and continues into next week, features the best of the rest, the six sides just under the ten Test-playing countries. For the two finalists, the rewards are bountiful - a place among the big boys in the inaugural Twenty20 World Championship in South Africa this September, along with $250,000. For countries used to surviving on annual handouts from the ICC of less than $200,000, that's big money.

With the exception of Bermuda, cricket is not a mainstream sport in any of the participants. And yet it survives, and in some instances thrives, despite the lack of attention and a relatively small number of enthusiasts.

The ICC, who do sterling work in supporting the game's second and third tiers, will rightly use the event to highlight that cricket is not just about the Indians and Australias of the world.

But there remains a nagging worry. The ICC boasts that the game is spreading across the world. But is that right? Is it taking root or is it surviving because more people from its hotbed - south-east Asia - are emigrating and keeping it alive for the duration of their careers?

In last year's Wisden Almanack, Matthew Engel raised this very issue. "Overwhelmingly, the game in non-traditional countries is played by expatriates, mostly South Asian. Journalists were kidded into believing that cricket was about to burst on China, on the basis of some warm comments by civil servants and a couple of coaching courses. I have seen not one shred of evidence to back this up. Are the kids playing with tapeballs on the streets of Shanghai? Are they heck!"

Take Canada. Of the squad in Nairobi at the moment, only three were born in the country, and two of those are over 35. Of the rest, five come from the Caribbean, four from India and each from Pakistan and Uganda. Whereas other Associates have a smattering of expats, Canada are utterly reliant on them.

Engel's comment attracted fierce criticism from those who either argued that England had more than their share of "imports" or that the game only spread in Asia, Africa, Australasia and the Caribbean through expats playing it in the first place.

The worry in some countries is that rather the game is not being continued by the second and third generations but is only being maintained by a steady flow of new immigrants

With regards to England, yes there have been quite a few non English-born players who have been picked for the side, but the game still has a massive stronghold in the country. The selection has been more about improving a solid side. And as for the ex-pats argument? Well, yes, but that's the crucial point. In the regions flagged the game was brought in but it was then embraced by the indigenous population and taken on as their own. This is exemplified no better than in CLR James's seminal work, Beyond A Boundary.

The worry in some countries - and again I come back to Canada - is that rather the game is not being continued by the second and third generations but is only being maintained by a steady flow of new immigrants. Canada's cricket heritage is rich but there is little sign that it has been built on. This is best underlined by the selection of former West Indies international Anderson Cummins. Forty years old and without a major match to his name since 1995-96, he made his debut in Mombasa last week. What message does that send out about the strength in depth of cricket in Canada?

It's not just Canada. Look at the USA, whose 2004 Champions Trophy side was a collection of ageing expats whose performances verged on the disgraceful. And the UAE, which is almost entirely dependant on its ex-pat workforce to keep the game alive.

Cricket's expansion should not be about filling teams with expats and expecting the locals to get excited about it. The only way cricket can gain a foothold in emerging countries is by actually getting the indigenous population to embrace the game, and two excellent examples where this is happening are Nepal and Uganda.

Anderson Cummins of Barbados, West Inbies ... and now Canada © Eddie Norfolk

Does it matter? Yes, because as the ICC looks to develop the game in as many places as possible, that means the financial cake has to be cut in ever thinner slices. The ICC needs to concentrate on a smaller number of countries where the chances of the game taking off. It is invidious that Uganda gets the same basic allowance as Belgium.

Cricket is in trouble in its traditional homes in Africa - Zimbabwe are hell-bent on destruction and South Africa seems to be falling out of love with the game. So efforts should be made in Uganda . And in Asia, which everyone accepts is the game's stronghold, a side like Nepal should really be given the leg up. It's about targeting rather than a scattergun approach.

In fairness to the ICC, they have a tough time and a lot of countries scrambling for a share of the spoils. It's about weeding out the weak and really looking to grow the game in areas where it has the best chance of taking root. It's an almost impossible ask. Look at the repeated failure of American Football to crack Europe ... and if football itself still battles for acceptance outside expats and schools in the USA, then the size of the ICC's task becomes clear.

Of course expats have a key role to play in expansion. But if the game is basically played by them, is it the game spreading or is it more about diehards clinging to the traditions of their homelands? In the UK there are baseball and American football sides, but they are almost all expat Americans and so few would seriously claim the games have taken hold. However, basketball and ice hockey are widely played by locals, boosted by some imported players and expats, and, crucially, the national side can stand on its own two feet. That's the difference.

Japanese wicket-keeper/batsman Tatsuro Chino may be small in stature but he is making a big splash in East Asia Pacific cricket circles.

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Former England Test captain Mike Gatting will play in a charity cricket match in Yokohama, Japan this October, along with Indian cricketer of the century Kapil Dev, and South African legend Clive Rice.

Japan may not be known as a premier cricketing and rugby nation, but come September Yokohama will play host to a veritable smorgasbord of cricketing and rugby greats. The Tyler Foundation, an NPO supporting children with cancer in Japan and their families, is presenting Sports Extravaganza 2006 from September 29 – October 1, 2006. Cricket and rugby celebrities from the U.K., India, New Zealand, South Africa and Australia are coming to Tokyo for a Sports Dinner at the Grand Hyatt in Roppongi, Tokyo, a Celebrity Golf Day at the Seve Ballesteros Course near Narita on September 30, and a Celebrity Cricket Match at the Y.C.A.C. in Yokohama on October 1.

Former England Test captain Mike Gatting will play in a charity cricket match in Yokohama, Japan this October, along with Indian cricketer of the century Kapil Dev, and South African legend Clive Rice.

Japan may not be known as a premier cricketing and rugby nation, but come September Yokohama will play host to a veritable smorgasbord of cricketing and rugby greats. The Tyler Foundation, an NPO supporting children with cancer in Japan and their families, is presenting Sports Extravaganza 2006 from September 29 – October 1, 2006. Cricket and rugby celebrities from the U.K., India, New Zealand, South Africa and Australia are coming to Tokyo for a Sports Dinner at the Grand Hyatt in Roppongi, Tokyo, a Celebrity Golf Day at the Seve Ballesteros Course near Narita on September 30, and a Celebrity Cricket Match at the Y.C.A.C. in Yokohama on October 1.

In addition to Dev, Gatting and Rice, the three-day Sports Extravaganza has attracted big names like Australian spinner Ray Bright, and English fast bowlers Gladstone Small and Devon Malcolm. It has also started to attract the attention of a wealth of sponsors. Sponsors like United Airlines, British Airways, Air New Zealand, South African Airways and Air India have come to the party with generous donations and the Hotel Okura in Tokyo is supporting with accommodations.

A huge coup for the event was when former Indian captain, Kapil Dev agreed to participate. In a recent interview with the Tyler Foundation, Dev explained why he wanted to support the event. He replied: “Well, a lot of people ask me why I do charity. If you don’t feel within yourself that you want to do something good for society or good for the world, then there’s no point doing it. But if you really fell strongly, one should spend 5% of their time or life giving back to the people who require help. I think it makes a big difference. And I also want to do that.”

The Tyler Foundation was established by the parents of Tyler Ferris, Kim and Mark, in honor of their son who died from a rare form of infant leukemia when he was just 23 months old in June 2005. Even though they felt Tyler received excellent care in Japan, the experience of having a child with cancer hospitalized for nearly two years, made them realize that there was still much to be done to make life easier for the young patients and the parents supporting them. Usage of Foundation funds is guided by a team of three Japanese doctors and headed by Tyler’s doctor, Dr. Masaaki Kumagai, who is the head of pediatric oncology/hematology at the National Center for Child Health and Development and on the Foundation’s board of directors.

There are four areas in which the Tyler Foundation aims to make a difference: supporting children with cancer who are hospitalized for long periods, supporting parents and siblings, providing financial assistance related to treatment options, and facilitating bone marrow and umbilical cord blood donation. One specific fundraising goal for the Sports Extravaganza is to provide an additional pediatric oncologist to Tyler’s hospital. The Tyler Foundation will employ the doctor and dispatch her or him to the hospital on an annual basis with the aim of improved care for patients and a greater sense of comfort for the parents

Cricket will not be the only code represented at the event. Joel Stransky, the South African rugby player who kicked the famous dropped goal against the All Blacks in extra time in the 1995 World Cup will also participate.

The Yokohama match will be 40 overs and spots on the team will also be open for bidding. It’ll be a great day for friends and family – and an excellent opportunity to introduce non-cricketing friends to the game in a fun and festive atmosphere.

The primary goal of The Tyler Foundation’s weekend of events is to raise funds for a worthy cause, but it will also give participants a good look at the grass roots level of cricket in Japan. Cricket lovers from all over country are invited to take part in the Sports Extravaganza, and to rub shoulders with these former cricket and rugby greats from around the world. Who knows, you may never get a chance like this again. Shine on!

For more information on the Foundation, the Sports Extravaganza, please visit: www.tylershineon.org.

Mark McTamney

While 16 teams are already preparing for the World Cup in the Caribbean, Fiji, Japan and the Cook Islands are assembling in Brisbane to continue their pursuit of a place in the 2011 tournament.

The three countries - the top teams in the ICC's East Asia-Pacific (EAP) region - are set to compete for the EAP Cricket Trophy this week with the winner qualifying for the World Cricket League Division 3, to be held in early 2007.

While 16 teams are already preparing for the World Cup in the Caribbean, Fiji, Japan and the Cook Islands are assembling in Brisbane to continue their pursuit of a place in the 2011 tournament.

The three countries - the top teams in the ICC's East Asia-Pacific (EAP) region - are set to compete for the EAP Cricket Trophy this week with the winner qualifying for the World Cricket League Division 3, to be held in early 2007.