ICC pleased by cricket's growth in RI
ICC pleased by cricket's growth in RI
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Although this country does not have the historical ties to
cricket of former British colonies like Malaysia and Singapore,
it is not stopping local kids from trying their hand at the
sport.
With stepped-up efforts in the past 10 years by the Indonesian
Cricket Foundation (JFC), including hiring coaches to tour local
schools, more youngsters in Jakarta and Bali have been introduced
to the game.
On Saturday, 40 Indonesians will join 20 expatriate children
in an inter-school competition at the British International
School in Bintaro.
The development is pleasing to the International Cricket
Council, which says about 10,000 local children have played
cricket in the past five years.
"Indonesia has the fastest growth in cricket players in the
world now," Tim Anderson, ICC regional development manager for
East Asia-Pacific, said on Tuesday during a five-day visit here.
He added that young Indonesians aged from eight to 10 years
played as well as their Australian peers, although local adult
teams still lagged behind in their skills.
"So it is a matter of a chance whether the kids could continue
playing cricket sustainably."
Jakarta and surrounding areas have five cricket grounds but
Anderson said more were needed to support development.
The ICC is keen to see the continuing development of cricket
here, with attendant professional management of cricket
organizations.
"At present, volunteers handle the Indonesian Cricket
Foundation. But with many kids playing cricket, the ICF should be
managed professionally to continue the current good development,"
he said.
Such efforts to enhance human resources will take considerable
funding, most likely from a corporate sponsor, although the ICC
also provides assistance.
However, Anderson said the ICC's assistance was limited
to helping hire coaches and drawing up a strategic development
plan because Indonesia remained an affiliate member, the lowest
rank membership in the ICC, below associate and full membership.
"I think Indonesia should seek associate membership
to get more assistance from the ICC, but the membership needs
specific requirements to be fulfilled."
Criteria include a reaching a particular number of cricket
players and a good standard of play.
"If Indonesia could play well and qualify from the
ICC World Cup qualifiers in Vanuatu this September, they can
apply as associate member of the ICC," he said.
Associate membership would also allow Indonesia to collect on
a US$44,000 annual dividend from the international cricket body.