Guernsey granted Associate status

Guernsey have become the 34th country to be granted Associate membership of the ICC after their application was unanimously approved during the annual conference in Dubai.

Vanuatu had also applied but they failed to meet the necessary playing requirements as they had not beaten two existing Associates in competition. Mozambique withdrew their application.

A further three countries from the Europe region - Bulgaria, Estonia and Turkey - were granted Affiliate status, taking the ICC's total member count to 104.

The decision to promote Guernsey to Associate status comes only three years after they were granted Affiliate membership. One senior ICC member praised their facilities as being among the best of any Associate, with a vibrant club and coaching structure in place.

In 2007 Guernsey won the ICC European Under-15 Division 2 Championship beating nine other European Associate and Affiliate members, and finished second and third in the European U-19 Division 2 and U-23 Division 2 respectively.

Commenting on the news, Richard Holdsworth, the ICC's regional development manager, said: "Cricket is a well established sport in Guernsey and it is fitting that after only three years of ICC Affiliate membership that the country has been promoted to an Associate member. The infrastructure on the island has developed well in recent years with good support of local sponsors and government organisations. Their excellent facilities including grass pitches and a new indoor cricket centre will help them to further develop at International level."