The Development Committee of the Asian Cricket Council unveiled ambitious plans for the future of Asian Cricket in the next ten years at their inaugural meeting in Colombo yesterday.

During the course of the two-day meeting, which was attended by Thilanga Sumathipala (President of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka), P. Krishnasamy (Malaysia), J. Shah (Nepal), Mazhar Khan (United Arab Emirates), Anil Kalaver (Singapore) and Duleep Mendis (Sri Lanka), the Development Committee addressed the objectives of the Development Committee, drew up an events schedule for the next five years, created a fast track system for the attainment of test and ODI status, and finalised expenditure plans for various development initiatives.

Listen to Thilanga

Thilanga Sumathipala, who lead the discussion with the media, announced that since the ICC had entrusted the ACC with the responsibility of developing cricket in the Asian region, the Development Committee had one overriding goal: “To make Asia the strongest cricketing region in the world.”

To achieve this objective the ACC was about to embark upon a comprehensive $36USD million development programme. Duleep Mendis, the Director of Cricket Development in Sri Lanka, was to made Chairman of the Development Committee, and would co-ordinate the development activities from a full-time office in Colombo.

The most ambitious objective of the meeting was the commitment to having two more countries in Asia ready for ODI status in 2005 and Test status in 2010. To achieve this a fast track system had been devised in which countries, with “the potential for moderate to rapid growth for in interest, participation and performance,” were identified. The four ‘fast track’ countries identified included Nepal, Malaysia, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates.

The development of cricket in fast track countries will be prioritised and they are to receive a proportionally greater share of the proposed $36 million development expenditure.

When questioned as to the feasibility of their countries achieving the necessary criteria for full ODI and test status so soon, the representatives from Nepal, Malaysia and Singapore, believed that the projected time frame was both realistic and necessary.

Anil Kalaver, from Singapore, said: “We have taken our lead from Sri Lanka, which has done exceptionally well at developing the game at the grass roots level in the last 10 years. Singapore already has one venue of international standard and six over turf venues. We aim to develop one more per year to ensure that we have the infrastructure to match the enthusiasm for the game in Singapore.”

Krishnasamy pointed to the volume of cricket already played in Malaysia: “They are already 157 schools playing cricket from the U13 to the U19 level, 62 clubs, and a two division tournament.”

The Nepalese representative, Mr Shah, believed that: “Cricket has the potential to outpace football and the martial arts as the most popular game in Nepal. Out of the 14 zones in our country, 12 are participating in our countrywide competition.”

The Development Committee also revealed a busy schedule for the next five years. This included the continuation of the Asian Test Championship, which was played for the first time in 1999, in 2002. The Asia Cup will be expanded to six teams when it is next played in 2002, an Under 19 Asia Cup will begin in 2001 and be played every two years thereafter, and an Under 15 and 17 Asian Championship will be held every year.

Press Conference

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