Cricket Special Report: Current affairs of ICC Intercontinental Cup (Part 2)
The ongoing Intercontinental Cup has raised the stakes for the associate countries, as they have a feel of the test cricket. The tournament started on the 4th of July, 2009. The last scheduled match played was won by Zimbabwe XI against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ireland-c751.
The match ended up giving 9 points to the winner and 3 to the Irish team.
One might get caught up in the point system of the tournament but just to break it down and make it similar to comprehend, here is the point system and how it works. The points are given on the basis of win, tie or first innings lead. 14 points are given
for a outright victory, 7 points each for an outright tie, 6 points for a lead in the first innings (points are attained irrespective of the end result of the match), and 3 points each for the a first inning tie.
Points for abandoned, interrupted or drawn matches are present in the tournaments regulations. If a match is abandoned without a ball’s play, each side will be awarded 10 points. On the contrary, in a match with more than 10 hours lost due to interruptions,
each side will be awarded 7 points for a draw, in addition, any points scored in the first innings. On the other hand, if less than 10 hours are lost due to interruptions, each side is given 3 points for a draw, and any points scored in the first innings.
If a country decides to forfeit a match, the opposition is awarded 20 points; in addition, the Event Technical Committee from ICC may impose a point’s penalty on the side forfeiting the fixture. Keeping in mind if http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zimbabwe-c3045 XI forfeiting request is accepted
by the committee than the Scottish team will be rewarded 20 points which will qualify them for the finals.
The general point system is placed in a league table order of merit based number of points, once the initial round-robin matches are completed. The two teams left at the top of the table will play the final, in this year’s edition http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Afghanistan-c745 is at the top,
and based on the course of action taken by the ICC, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Scotland-c756 or Zimbabwe XI will be able to secure the second position on the official league charts.
However, the point system varies for the final match, which is due in the last week of November. The winner of the tournament will achieve an outright victory but if the final is abandoned or drawn, the team which has finished at the top on the league table
will ensure a victory. Meanwhile, in case of tie in the final, both teams will share the title of the Intercontinental Cup 2009-10 winners.
Meanwhile, Ireland will be disappointed as their run for the previous 3 consecutive editions will come to an end. The Irish team were the winners of the 2005, 2006-7 and 2007-8 edition. Even though, the Irish have scored the most runs in their 6 first-class
test matches, but the point systems at times can turn against a team or two. The Irish have finished the tournament at 4th, just behind Scotland, Zimbabwe XI and Afghanistan.
The three runners-up in the 3 consecutive Irish victories are http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Netherlands-c753 15 and the Canadian were a bit hopeless at 9.
This ongoing 5th edition of the Intercontinental Cup has brought new controversial problems for the cricketing authorities. Maybe, for the next edition ICC can plan a better way for these associate countries to compete against each other, by making
sure that the 6th edition is managed in a lesser hap-hazard way. A key point for the ICC to take under consideration is to try holding the entire event in one particular country or region. Therefore, international politics can be kept away for
the global game of cricket. As billions of viewers wait for ICC’s final verdict on the Zimbabwe XI forfeit and the final of the tournament, the Intercontinental Cup promises healthy and a much need cricketing development of these associate countries.
Tags: