Guernsey just three steps from World Cup

GUERNSEY are only three steps away from appearing in the World Cup - theoretically. At the International Cricket Council annual conference this week, the meeting at which both Guernsey and Jersey were granted affiliate membership, the European playing structure was redesigned.

There are now three divisions in Europe, with countries such as Scotland, Ireland and Holland in the top division and Guernsey, Jersey, France, Germany, Gibraltar and Israel in the second.

Two other countries will be added to division two depending on the results of an affiliates' tournament that takes place in Belgium in August.

Other countries such as Greece, Norway, Isle of Man and Belgium have been placed in the bottom division.

Dave Piesing, chairman of the Guernsey Cricket Board, cited the island's recent matches against ICC associates Namibia and Bermuda as to why they had been included into the second division.

'The old structure was based on your status not your ability,' he said.

'This is based on ability. We've clearly been fast-tracked ahead of Belgium and Isle of Man and can only be based on the evidence of the ICC being satisfied of our playing strengths.'

It is planned that, at the end of July next year in Scotland, there will be a division two tournament, the winner of which will be promoted to division one. In addition, the runner-up will have a play-off against the bottom team from division one, offering a chance to take their place.

In 2008, the division one countries will have their own tournament whereby the top four teams will automatically go to the 2009 ICC Trophy and have a chance to qualify for the 2011 World Cup.

'They have created a structure whereby if you're good enough, you can qualify for the ICC Trophy,' said Piesing.

'With the old structure it would have been very difficult. At the moment I would back us to win the division two tournament next year, with Jersey being the next-strongest team.

'But saying that, the other teams aren't novices. They all played in the ICC Trophy in Toronto four years ago.'

As well as Guernsey and Jersey, the ICC granted affiliate membership to Mali and Slovenia this week.

This takes the total ICC membership to 96 countries.

After Guernsey's strong performances on the pitch against Namibia and Bermuda last week, it had been mooted in certain quarters that Jersey had piggybacked on Sarnian success.

'That's not really true,' said Piesing.

'Jersey have been crucial in brokering the whole deal of us leaving the English Cricket Board and joining the ICC.

'They have good connections with the ICC and they have opened quite a few doors, whereas we've been more proactive on the field by playing these ICC countries and getting ourselves noticed.'

The council also approved upgrades from affiliate to associate membership for Belgium, Botswana, Japan, Kuwait and Thailand. The benefits of associate membership over affiliate include funding and full voting rights at ICC meetings.

Piesing believes that Guernsey will be an associate member within two years.

'It is impossible to join the ICC as an associate member,' he said.

'We'll get it. It's not a question of if we will, more when we will.'

Guernsey and Jersey have negotiated continued funding from the ECB for the next two years until they receive this expected associate status. The money for the ICC funding comes from the World Cups.

The next one takes place in 2007 in the West Indies and the full members, those that are Test-playing nations, receive 70% and the associate members receive 30% of the generated income.

However, as an affiliate member, Guernsey does receive funding for the travelling involved going to tournaments.