MUMBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has released a television documentary that highlights the ongoing global development of cricket.
The 25-minute programme,produced by Three Feet High in association with the ICC, is aimed at emphasizing the work of the Pepsi ICC Development Programme and showing just how far the great game is spreading around the world within the ICC’s 94 Associate and Affiliate Members.
Says ICC CEO Haroon Lorgat, “It’s important that we spread cricket across all corners of the world. It’s amazing how much interest there is in the game and, therefore, we have an obligation in some sense to provide people with the opportunity to access it. So from every respect, including a strategic objective of the ICC, the global growth of the game is very important.”
The international success of cricket in Ireland in recent years has been documented with special highlights. Cricket Ireland Development Manager Brían O’Rourke recalls that interest in cricket wasn’t always so high in Ireland and that the Pepsi ICC Development Programme has played a key role in the game’s expansion there.
“We didn’t have any equipment or any sources when we were starting out. But a lot of assistance came through ICC‘s development programme. We received simple things like materials for schools, posters, as well as equipment, and more recently have been able to send our better players to (ICC) academies. So now we are able to move from a participation focus and concentrate more on performance," says O’Rourke.
Cricket’s popularity in East Africa is also featured in the documentary, with particular focus on the 40,000 cricket participants in Uganda. National team captain Junior Kwebiha talks about cricket’s rise in his country.
“ICC has helped cricket develop a lot in Uganda, right from the grass roots to the national teams. Crowds are building as people get to know more about the game, and we are working with the ICC to have more cricket, more teams and more tours,” says Kwebiha.
The show is being provided free of charge by the ICC in order to promote and highlight the amount and quality of cricket played around the world, outside of the ICC’s Full Member countries.
