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.

The first ever International cricket sixes tournament to be held in the Philippines took place at the picturesque fields of Clark on March 8 and 9 2008.

Thirteen teams, of which ten flew in to participate, took part in the inaugural Metals Exploration Philippine International Cricket Sixes, competing in Cup, Plate and Bowl divisions of the tournament co-organised by the Manila Nomads and the Asian Cricket Sixes Tour. The teams were joined by guest star cricketer, the former England and Surrey wicketkeeper Jack Richards.

Balmy weather and lush green surroundings were the setting for the tournament taking place on the huge Parade Ground at the fomer US Airforce base overlooked by Mount Pinatubo, the volcano which last erupted in 1991.

The official tournament hotel, the Holiday Inn, is just 10 minutes taxi ride from Clark airport. And with the the two full size grounds just a few minutes stroll from the Holiday Inn, even weekend athletes who had over-indulged more than usual had no excuses for tardiness, with hefty team fines undoubtedly levied on the transgressors.

In the field, competition was fierce but fair as a strong outfits from the Manila Nomads and Manila Indians competed against experienced overseas teams including acclaimed sixes maestros and fancied favourites the Shanghai Dragons plus the strongly tipped Gladiators.

Off the field, the sides were treated to free flowing San Miguel and sumptuous solids at the convivial Welcome Reception under the stars at Yat's International Wine Club, a wine bar & fine dining restaurant, plus the Gala Dinner in the Holiday Inn Ballroom. In an entertaining evening the 200 or so guests were treated to a lavish buffet dinner and amused by guest star Jack Richard's numerous recollections of how England last went about winning an Ashes series in Australia. Guests also had the opportunity to pose and have some merriment with several life size and lifelike cutouts of cricketers such as Sachin Tendulkar, Harbhajan Singh and Matthew Hayden as the hotel had really gone to town decorating the room to a cricketing theme.

What was incredibly heartening to see at the event was a cricket team made up of Korean students, 100% Korean and playing in their first overseas tournament as the Korean Crusaders. A great bunch of lads, good competitors but joining in the wonderful cameraderie. It's not every day you see ethnic Korean guys playing cricket in the Philippines, in fact not surprisingly it's never happened until now. But that's the nature of sixes cricket tournaments, expanding cricket horizons and helping the game to develop sometime in the most unlikely of places. It's happened in Phuket, Macau, Shanghai and sixes cricket is now contributing to the growth of cricket in the Philippines.

Back to the fields, and sixes regulars the Bounty Buccaneers from Malaysia, led by Dave Nightingale, astonished themselves and others by grasping a place in the Bowl final amid a last ball melee, and then went on to a well executed and deserved victory over a talented and experienced CBB's outfit.

In the Plate the Shanghai Pirates who'd played well all tournament were pipped in the Final by the Taipans from Hong Kong, ably led by their skipper Romy.

And in the Cup final it was no great surprise that the Manila Nomads, fielding a very capable side in their own event, had won through to take on the fancied Shanghai Dragons. But they had little answer to the meaty bats of the sixes experts from Shanghai as Sanjay Anugula and Mike Tsesmelis both found the boundary with apparent ease. Only Henry Ahuja from the Nomads shone with the bat but it was not enough as the champions of the Macau and Hong Kong sixes tournaments added another trophy to their cabinet.

There was however some consolation for the thrillers from Manila when the umpires named Henry as the player of the Final for his miserly bowling figures of 0-3 plus 26 runs with the bat.

And what of Jack 'the Entertainer' Richards? He'd been appropriated at the Captain's Meeting against fierce competition by the Misfits from Singapore and they pressed his previously unheralded bowling skills into action. Jack helped them to a semi final too as the Misfits somehow rode the format despite losing a few matches. The losses didn't appear to dampen the Singsongers mood however as they consoled themselves very nicely in their hotel swimming pool later on.

The awards ceremony, MC'd by the Chairman of the Nomads cricket section Bill Bailey, was a splendid affair with plenty of silverware dished out to the deserving, and plenty of San Miguel flowing, most of which somehow found it's way over Mike Tsesmelis's head.

Bill thanked Mr Bernie Angeles from Clark Development Corporation who had agreed to the use of the exceptional facilities to stage the tournament, and presented him with a Manila Nomads plaque to mark the occasion.

The teams and tournament also showed their appreciation for Mr Gary Powell of leading sponsors Metals Exploration for their superb support of this first ever International Sixes tournament.

The first Metals Exploration Philippine International Cricket Sixes was a resounding success, staged at a wonderful location and with exceptional weather and cameraderie. Thirteen teams can pat themselves on the back for taking the plunge by entering a new tournament, especially the guys from Korea.

Bill Bailey said, "The spirit of cricket was in evidence throughout the tournament and the Philippine Sixes can only get bigger and better every year."

Mike Maher, Chairman of co-organisers Asian Cricket Sixes Tour said, "It's been a fantastic weekend, a real success and an exceptional first tournament. The Philippine Sixes is now firmly on the map, on the ACST calendar, and we expect in excess of 20 teams for the 2009 event in March next year."
Mark Burns