Israelis among the 2010 starters

THE island will host Israel's cricket team as part of ICC European Division Two Championship next year.

Guernsey Cricket Board chief executive Mark Latter confirmed yesterday that the 2010 tournament is to be played in the Bailiwick.

The dates have yet to be finalised, but it most likely to be held in July.

Along with the hosts and the Israelis, France, Germany, Norway and Gibraltar will also take part.

Israel featured in 2006 European Division Two in Glasgow, only weeks after invading Lebanon in retaliation for rocket attacks by Hezbollah paramilitaries on the Jewish state's northern towns.

There were demonstrations at Israel's cricket matches by Glasgow's large Muslim population and anti-war protestors.

Extra security measures were taken at the hotel in the centre of the city where all the teams were staying together.

The situation got so bad that Guernsey's and Israel's vital group match, which if the Sarnians had lost could have seen them relegated to Division Three, was played behind closed doors, nearly 200 miles north at RAF Lossiemouth.

But Latter (pictured) does not expect any such problems next year.

'Obviously from what went before, the world has moved on a lot from there,' he said.