It is one of the most popular and most played sport from London to India and in most former British colonies in the Caribbean. But here in Belize, cricket still doesn't receive the hype or the support like basketball, football, and even softball. Since 1997 though the National Cricket Association has been working to restore the sport which fell to the wayside in the 1970s. 21 years later and with 14 teams, the Cricket Association says cricket has made a comeback in Belize. The Association's President Elston Wade says it's also time for Belize to be upgraded from an affiliate to an associate member in the International Cricket Council which is cricket's governing body. Two inspectors from the ICC in London are here and Wade says Belize's chances for an upgrade are good.
Elston Wade, President Belize Cricket Association
"We've been working on this since 1996 when we decided that we have to revive cricket and bring it back to its glory days. We think we have reached the stage where we need now the impetus of associate membership and we think that we are there and we are very very hopeful that this inspection will go well."
Mathew Kennedy, International Cricket Council
"Its actually a wide range of criteria set up in the ICC's membership guidelines from playing facilities to practice facilities to administration and governance, junior development, senior playing, as well as issues like enthusiasm and promotion and the cricket education system that have been set up. It certainly has been great to see 6oday one of those education classes conducted in a junior school."
Laurie Pieters, International Cricket Council
"(Being an associate) does allow you to be ranked in the cricket world and then it also gives Belize greater access to more coaching, financial assistance, from the International Cricket Council, and also participation in international cricket tournaments."
Mathew Kennedy,
"Being an associate member also gives access to the under 19 World Cup. All the associate members have the ability to qualify through a global scheme to make it to our under 19 World Cup which I think is a character hope for junior development in this country to work forward."
The two inspectors Laurie Pieters and Mathew Kennedy will head back to London to the ICC where a final decision will be made. That decision will be announced in June. Belize is one of 6 countries, which applied for associate membership this year. 92 countries are members of the International Cricket Council.
