ICC World League is vital for cricket's development: Sonn

Dubai, Jan 9 (UNI) If cricket is going to continue its development beyond the game's traditional boundaries initiatives such as the ICC World Cricket League Division 1 are vitally important, according to ICC President Percy Sonn.

Speaking ahead of the inaugural WCL Div. 1 tournament which takes place in Nairobi from January 30 to February 7, Mr Sonn said that there was now an exciting structure of competitive cricket outside the 10 Full Members that gave a real edge to the level of competition being played at that level.

''In many ways, the World Cricket League is what the ICC is all about. I believe that raising the standard of cricket in the Associate and Affiliate Members is one of our primary goals as a governing body. Cricket within our 10 Full Members is obviously vitally important to us but we must also continually redouble our efforts to make sure we do not forget our 87 other Members,'' he said.

''Events like the World Cricket League show in a real way how committed ICC is spreading this great game all around the world and giving players opportunities like never before,'' he added.

The WCL Div. 1 involves the top six Associate teams -- Kenya, Scotland, Ireland, Canada, Bermuda and the Netherlands -- all of whom have qualified to play in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 in the West Indies.

UNI