ACC Archived News - February 2005

Po Kong Rises High In Hong Kong

Following a recent visit to Hong Kong, ACC Development Officer Rumesh Ratnayake reports back enthusiastically about the prospects of Hong Kong developing its first international size ground in Kowloon, on the Po Kong Village Road. “It would seem to suit all the ICC requirements. Hong Kong definitely needs its own dedicated ground in order to properly train and develop its players. There are many youngsters showing a great deal of talent and a national ground can only inspire them to strive harder”, he said.

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ACC U-15 Trophy Dates Confirmed

The 2005 ACC U- 15 Trophy deferred from last year will take place from April 11 to 22 in the UAE. Matches will be played in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah with Abu Dhabi hosting the final. Fifteen teams in total will participate (all the ACC member countries with the exception of the Test-playing nations, Brunei and China). “This is a terrific opportunity for youngsters across our region to really test themselves against their peers and this tournament will be keenly contested”, says K.K. Haridas, ACC Event Assistant.

There will also be ACC U-17 and ACC U-19 tournaments later in the year.

Filed February 28 2005

PNG AOK For ICC

Papua New Guinea stormed through the ICC World Cup Qualifying Series Division 2 by beating Fiji in an exciting final in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Unbeaten throughout, PNG triumphed in extremely hot and humid conditions thanks to their fitness, athleticism and discipline as much as their skill. Their bowlers hardly bowled a bad ball in 200 overs and their batsmen had the knack of building partnerships when they mattered most.

Nepal and Qatar were semi-finalists in the competition. Nepal lost to Fiji by just three runs as they chased 143, having been 36 for 6 at one stage and then 77 for 9.

Papua New Guinea now join the UAE and Oman in the 12-nation ICC Trophy in Ireland in July 2005.

Filed February 28 2005

Oman Plays Tsunami Cricket

Muscat, February 10: The Oman Cricket Board staged a floodlit benefit game for Tsunami relief and raised an impressive USD$45,000.

H.H. Sayyid Haitham bin Tariq Al Said the Oman Cricket Board’s Patron in Chief and H.E. Ali bin Masoud bin Ali Sunaidi the Minister of Sports Affairs both played in the match, along with H.E. the Indian Ambassador and the Pakistan Charge d’Affaires. Also playing were Sandip Patil the coach of Oman and Iqbal Sikander the ACC Development Officer.

Oman cricket proved to be the ultimate winner when in a surprise announcement His Highness Sayyid Haitham announced that Muscat Municipality would be donating a brand new ground at Al Amerat in recognition of Oman’s increasing success on the international stage.

Filed February 10 2005