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 plot for finals day became much clearer on day three of the Phuket International Cricket Sixes, as Leeming Spartans, Etihad Airways and Bahrain Camels eased through to the Cup semi-finals.

23 teams from eleven countries are competing for honours at this fifth annual Phuket Sixes, winner of the ICC Global Award for cricket development.

Etihad had a wonderful day today, beating both Corner Tigers of Pakistan and one of the form teams, Lamma CC of Hong Kong. The Tigers were restricted to a meagre 60 against the pumped-up Airways, with only Imran Idrees making his mark with a classy 35 not out. Etihad then knocked off the total without losing a wicket with 4 balls to spare, Azam retiring on 30 and Sanket – the dangerous left-hander - not out on 18. Then Etihad defeated Lamma CC, knocking off a challenging target of 79 to win with both Azam and Sanket again getting in the runs. Sher Lama had retired on 30 not out for the Hong Kong outfit. Lamma later defeated Corner Tigers to keep their hope alive of a place in the semi finals Sunday.

In Plate action The Entertainers faced the biggest challenge of the day as they chased the Uni Wanderers total of 105, the biggest score of the day. They gave it their all, but ran out of overs still 34 runs short of the target. Both Mark Parry and Trevor Higgins had retired for the Wanderers, each making an unbeaten 31.

The Plate semi-finals will now be played by Uni Wanderers, Weraroa CC from New Zealand, Toorak Prahan CC of Melbourne and the Entertainers as the doctors of the Delhi Medical Association and the Calcutta Old Boys both missed the cut.

The Bowl and Spoon divisions are still open with Wild Men from Borneo looking good in the Bowl and Gauhati Town from India playing well in the Spoon.

An entertaining Twenty20 match was won on Friday night by the Trevor Chappell XI over Kenny Jackson's World XI at the Karon Stadium. A raucous crowd applauded and barracked for three hours as twenty two of the best players in the tournament battled for pride and for charity under floodlights in what was a wonderfully atmospheric evening.

Finals Day gets underway at 9.15am with a Cup fixture featuring the Liquid Lounge Lizards and Calcutta Cricket & Football Club in what will be a decider for the final place in the Cup semi-finals.

Mark Burns

Another glorious day of sunshine at Karon Beach in Phuket on day two of the Phuket International Sixes, as Lamma CC of Hong Kong went to the top of the table.

Lamma beat Calcutta Old Boys – the newcomers to the tournament - by 21 runs with both Trevor Chappell and Brad Tarr retiring for the Hong Kong outfit after posting a hefty total of 89. In reply Calcutta OB could only muster 68.

The Entertainers from New Zealand scored the highest total of the day when they blasted 93 against the Wild Men of Borneo. Woddsy of the Wild Men top-scored with 35 not out. The team did well to reach 78 in reply but fell 15 runs short of the target.

Corner Tigers from Pakistan, the former champions, performed well enough in their first two matches to feature in the Cup competition again this year. Bahrain Camels and Etihad, new to the Phuket Sixes this year, also made the cut.

Six teams will compete for the Plate which includes both New Zealand sides. The doctors from the Delhi Medical Association will also fight it out for Plate silverware.

The reception party for the tournament was held on Thursday night at the Green Man and the Bollywood theme went down a treat with the teams. An amusing question and answer session was held on stage featuring Alan Mullally and Chappell who revealed a few secrets and anecdotes from their careers including a section on best sledges which brought the house down.

Mark Burns

Mark Burns

Glorious sunshine greeted the teams on day one of the Phuket International Cricket Sixes being played at Karon Stadium, Phuket. In the first match of the day were the new Kiwi newcomers to the Phuket Sixes, Wearoa and the Entertainers. Weraroa looked handy as they posted a useful total of 74, with Scott Rogers notching 24. In reply the Entertainers fell nine runs short with Stu Davenport top-scoring on 32 not out.

Trevor Chappell, the former Australia batsman and regular visitor to Phuket, was in action on the first day for Lamma CC (Hong Kong) who were matched up against the Perth Postels. This match was played after a sudden deluge of rain had forced play to be suspended for around an hour. Chappell was in exceptional form with the bat, stroking a breezy 31 not out barely breaking into a sweat. Paul Hutchinson of Lamma also retired with 32, Lamma posting a useful total of 72 in a reduced-overs match. Perth Postels had little answer to the Lamma total, although they'll be buoyed by the performance of Brian Shaw who scored 29 not out. Lamma, who were rocked by a back injury to Paul Hutchinson during the match, won by 18 runs.

Another new side to the Phuket Sixes, the Delhi Medical Association (every player being a doctor of medicine) were pipped to the post by the CBB Postels. Dr Shashi was the top performer for the medicine men with 24 runs to his name, but the CBB'ers, no strangers to this short form of the game won the match with an over to spare, Kenny Jackson retiring with 32 not out.

The scheduled thirteen matches were played during the day despite the early rain with play finishing on time at 5.30pm.

Matches get underway again at 9.15 on Friday morning, with the Charity Twenty 20 match getting underway under floodlights at 6.30pm. The tournament runs until finals day on Sunday 20th.

Entry for spectators is free, all are welcome to come and enjoy the cricket action and atmosphere. Food and drinks are available at the ground.

For further information see www.phuketsixes.com