Bangladesh win first ODI

Bangladesh started their tour of Kenya with a 6 wicket victory. After putting Kenya in, they dismissed them for 168, despite a middle order fightback from the Kenyans. Mohammad Ashraful led the way in the run chase with an unbeaten 67. A more complete report can be found at the Kenya Cricket Blog.

Result

Kenya innings: 168 all out
Bangladesh innings: 170/4 (Mohammad Ashraful 67 not out)

Bangladesh win by 6 wickets

A conflict of interest?

In August, Bermuda will be visiting Canada, to play an Intercontinental Cup game and two ODIs against Canada, plus two ODIs against Kenya. The problem is, if they progress to the semi final or final of the Stanford 20/20, they will have to be in two places at once. Their fixture list would be like this:

• 9th August: 1st ODI v Kenya (Toronto)
• 10th August: 2nd ODI v Kenya (Toronto)
• 11th August: Stanford 20/20 Semi Final (Antigua)
• 12th August: 4 day game v Canada (Toronto)
• 13th August: Stanford 20/20 Final (Antigua)

This is obviously impossible. So what will happen? Teams are obligated to send their best XI to ICC events, but would Bermuda really send a second XI to a tournament with a million dollar first prize? I highly doubt it.

ICC announce hosts for World Cups and more

The ICC have announced hosts for a whole range of events going up to the 2019 World Cup, to be held in England (probably in Wales, Scotland and Ireland too).

The 2011 World Cup has gone to Asia, with the 2015 event being jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand. The 2009 ICC Trophy will be played in the UAE, and the 2013 event in Scotland. The Netherlands also get a look in, and will host the 2010 World Cricket League Division One tournament.

Surprisingly, the ICC have decided to move the Under 19 World Cup to the associate countries. Malaysia will host the 2008 event, followed by Kenya in 2010, Canada in 2012, and the UAE in 2014.

I was quite surprised by this, as I thought the Twenty20 tournaments would have more of a chance of going to associate countries. Whatever your opinion of Twenty20, one can’t deny that it is probably the most marketable form of the game, and holding it in a country where cricket is not popular could do wonders for the sports popularity in that country. Instead, the first two tournaments will go to South Africa in 2007, and England in 2009, which I suppose is fair enough with those countries being early adopters of the format.

ICC announce huge schedule for associates

The ICC have today announced a huge schedule of cricket for six associates with ODI status. (Bermuda, Canada, Ireland, Kenya, Netherlands and Scotland).

Good to see these countries getting a lot more cricket.

Tikolo confident

via Kenya Cricket

Steve Tikolo is confident about the forthcoming tour to Zimbabwe, which features 5 ODIs.

They’ve every right to be. They thrashed Zimbabwe A late last year, but that A side was actually the full test side, featuring Heath Streak and Tatenda Taibu.

Those players have now left, and with an inexperienced captain at the helm, Zimbabwe are set to struggle.