The International Cricket Council (ICC) and Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) today announced that developing cricket nations will benefit from legacy funding after all MCC Tours in 2005.

The ICC/MCC initiative will provide $US 5,000 of funds for post-tour development work to help the governing bodies grow the sport in their countries.

“The MCC has a long history of visiting cricketing outposts around the world and this funding will ensure that these developing nations will continue to benefit after the touring party has left,” said ICC Global Development Manager Matthew Kennedy.

“The funding is an excellent way of ensuring that the game continues to develop and grow in cricketing nations throughout the world. Progress will be monitored with great interest, particularly when we tour countries who have previously received funding,” said MCC Head of Cricket John Stephenson.

The initiative was trialled in 2004 with Italy one of the first countries to benefit. “The 2004 MCC tour of Italy, the third after those in 1993 and 1998, marked another stepping stone in the growth of the game in the peninsula,” said Federazione Cricket Italiana President Simone Gambino. “We have used the generous grant to purchase junior cricket sets to foster the growth of cricket in schools.”

The first MCC Tour of 2005 began in Namibia last Monday, with a full list of scheduled dates below:

Tour

Date

Namibia & Uganda

14 February to 4 March

Singapore & Malaysia

22 March to 9 April

Finland & Estonia

26 July to 5 August

France

21 August to 2 September

Japan

7 September – 22 September

Canada

14 September to 2 October

ICC contact:

Jon Long

Tel: + 44 (0) 207 266 7912

Mob: + 44 (0) 7946 545 090

Email:

jon.long@icc-cricket.com