Cricket in Indonesia is moving ahead thanks to the ICC. Vishnu Samtani reports on latest moves plus a very special guest:

"Jakarta Cricket Association is reviving this year its Annual Dinner on June 3rd, 2000, after an absence of over three years. The dinner had been timed perfectly to commemorate the inauguration of the Indonesia Cricket Foundation (ICF). This has come about thanks to the joint efforts of the Jakarta Cricket Association, the Bali International Cricket Foundation, and under the guidance of Andrew Eade, ICC's man this side of the world.

ICF will ensure the development of cricket across the archipelago amongst indigenous Indonesian population, through schools and other institutions, and also amongst the expatriate communities across the nation. The ICF comprises of delegates nominated from the JCA and the BICF.

Andrew Eade, who will attend this dinner as a guest speaker, worked well to solicit the attendance of Sir Richard at this function. JCA had precautiously arranged the participation of approximately 200 people at this dinner, but the moment Sir Richard's attendance had been confirmed, all tickets were sold out in less than 2 days. We are now looking to see the possibility of increasing the accommodation for another 20 to 40 persons. Ambassadors and other dignitaries from the diplomatic corps of the various Test and cricketing nations have confirmed their attendance as well. A fund raiser, in the form of an auction after dinner, will be held via items such as autographed balls, shirts, bats and other memorabilia.

The ICF is also applying for membership into KONI, the governmental authority on sport in Indonesia. Imminent entry into KONI will pave way for much assistance for enabling the spreading of cricket throughout Indonesia on many levels, such as corporate, club, and school levels, as well as receive assistance in other forms as well. We have also requested the attendance of either the Chairman, or the Vice-Chairman, of KONI at this dinner, and the media-hype already being generated has been unexpected. TV stations have already broadcast a segment of Indonesia women learning the sport recently, and the media are expected to be out for the JCA Grand Final on May 28th, as well as the dinner on June 3rd. Indonesian men and women cricket enthusiasts, numbering almost 40, are already practicing twice weekly under floodlights in central Jakarta. There is much excitement as participants are aware that cricket will be an official sport in one of the near-future SEA Games, and everyone is working hard to make a dream come true to represent Indonesia."