Donated equipment a key to cricket's regional development

With interest in cricket continuing to grow rapidly in the ICC's East Asia - Pacific (EAP) region, the need for cricket equipment has never been higher.

Over 33,000 participants are now involved in formal cricket activities in the region's 10 member countries compared to less than 13,000 in 2001. In order to meet the increased demand for equipment created by this growth, significant amounts of old and new cricket gear is being donated by the cricket interested public of Australia and New Zealand.

"We have been over whelmed by the generosity of cricket lovers in Australia and New Zealand who have donated equipment to assist the developing cricket nations of East Asia and the Pacific," said ICC Regional Development Manager Tim Anderson.

Receiving equipment is only one part of the puzzle however with distribution to such a diverse region that spreads from Japan to the Cook Islands also presenting a challenge.

To overcome this challenge the region has recently received outstanding support from freight forwarders Queensland International Freight Services and Aust-Asia Worldwide who this week sent over 150kgs of equipment to both PNG and Vanuatu.

"This type of assistance cannot be underestimated and the ICC member countries of the EAP region are fortunate that organistations such as Queensland International Freight Services and Aust-Asia Worldwideare supportive of cricket's continued expansion throughout East Asia and the Pacific," added Mr Anderson.

Nancy Atkins, Managing Director of Queensland International Freight Services said:

"It is an important objective of Queensland International Freight Services to provide our customers with reliable, efficient international freighting solutions within the Asia - Pacific region."

"Therefore when we were approached to assist the ICC Development Program by forwarding donated equipment to the emerging cricket countries of the region, we were only to happy to help."