Cricket funding likely to increase

GUERNSEY and Jersey could be even better off financially than they imagined by joining the International Cricket Council. This week 'Cricket Guernsey' made its formal application for membership of the ICC and it is hoped that by 2007 it will join the list of associate members and with it gain substantial funding to develop the game.

That funding could now increase with news that the 27 associate member countries are creating a fuss over the methods of World Cup dividends.

At present 75% goes to the Test-playing nations and 25% to the associates who argue that the ratio should change to their benefit.

'This is all good news for Guernsey and Jersey,' said Cricket Guernsey chairman Dave Piesing.

The ICC AGM produced another slice of good luck for the Channel Islands which hope to gain swift elevation from affiliate membership to associate and the big funding that goes with it.

Malcolm Speed, chief executive of the ICC, announced a far-reaching review of how countries below Test level are able to compete against each other, the intention bening that countries of similar standard play against each other and that mis-matches are minimised.

This review is partly as a result of the likes of the Isle of Man, Guernsey and Jersey coming on board and joining the structure nearer to the middle than the bottom in terms of playing standards and facilities.