Israeli security not a concern for GCB

GUERNSEY Cricket Board chairman Dave Piesing has played down security fears surrounding the island under-17s playing in Israel next summer. They will be the first Guernsey age-group side to play in the European Champ-ionships and are likely to be among six to eight sides at the week long tournament.

On the security issue, Piesing said: 'It is going to be closely monitored.

'The ECC in London will keep a close eye on what's going on.

'I strongly suspect that they will have a contingency plan if security becomes an issue.

'There is no way the ECC will force a tournament to go ahead somewhere if it's not all safe.'

The GCB had no hesitation in accepting the invitation to play in the Middle Eastern hot-bed.

Jersey have also accepted and the other likely participants will be Germany, France, Italy and Gibraltar, as well as the host nation.

The under-17s will be the only island age-group side involved in an ECC tournament next year, but in 2007 it will be the turn of the under-15s and the under-19s.

Promotion to the top division of any of the three age-group competitions will mean annual tournaments as opposed to biennial and Piesing says that promotion must be an aim.

Funding is not a serious issue either, as he explained.

'With effect from 2006 all ECC tournaments will carry 100% external travel funding.

'That means that countries can't pull out on the basis they can't afford to get there.

'It certainly takes the pressure off.'

Dave Nussbaumer will manage the side in Israel with Mike Kinder as coach.

The manager has also warned his team that they need to get fitter.

'We're going to be working hard on their fitness.'