AZERBAIJAN
It was a revisit to Lord's after 20 long years and was worthwhile for all the trouble. Alum Bati - newly elected President of Azerbaijan Cricket Association was able to personally hand over his country's ICC Membership application last May. Hopefully this beautiful country by the Caspian Sea would receive ICC Affiliation next year. There are already moves to popularise the game among native kids in a joint collaboration with The International School of Azerbaijan [TISA].

CAMBODIA
There is a thriving cricketing community in Phnom Penh and the Phnom Penh Cricket Club with the likes of the indefatigable Kiran Desai are vigorously promoting the game. Even though a recent attempt by the Club to bring together Laos and Vietnam for a Triangular failed due to lack of time it is only considered to be a minor setback. Having obtained cricketing kit from ICC they have invited the ICC Asia-Pacific Development Manager to make a visit to Phnom-Penh.

COSTA RICA
Twelve months back there was nothing to write about cricket in this green oasis in Central America. However due to the efforts of Richard Illingworth - not the former England left armer - but a cricketer in his own right and the owner of a large coconut plantation, not only have San Jose and Limon Cricket Clubs been revived but a Cricket Board has been formed for good measure. Costa Rica became one of the founding members of the Cricket Council of Americas last April and ICC Affiliation beckons in 2002.

NIGERIA
Wasn't it Dr Ali Bacher who said that the 2003 World Cup was for the whole of Africa? Then one wonders why West Africa has been left out? Well at least some members of the reconstituted Nigerian Cricket Association privately think that Nigeria has the ability to host one match in the 2003 World Cup. They are also confident of staging the 2004 Under-19 World Cup [nothing official though]

PARAGUAY
At first it was the friendly match with cucumber sandwitches and tea in Ascencion and now the sudden discovery of around 80 Indian cricketers [of the South Asian variety] close to the Brazilian border. They are all resident Paraguayans and are eligible to play for Paraguay. But they have a slight problem - deadly - they may say. They have no protective gear. Could anyone volunteer to provide them with some decent reusable cricket gear - anything from bats / pads / balls / stumps / matting.... Contact: NORMAN LANGER
President - Cricket Association of Paraguay
stranger@highway.com.py
If they do not get their gear now, I may have to request you for artificial limbs in 3 months time!

USA
Computer giant Microsoft is assisting cricket in its home base - Seattle, Washington State. With a work force of nearly 2000 cricket lovers [mainly from India] Bill Gates obviously knows enough cricket to know the difference between operating windows and smashing windows...

Seriously, Kamran Khan and USA Cricket Association should consider approaching Microsoft. Just imagine, Microsoft donated 36 million US dollars to charity alone in 2000. If just a fraction of that amount was injected into US cricket.....and it need not be charity. It could be a sponsorship of US cricket- a sport that attracts thousands of South Asian immigrants in USA and most of them are computer savvy.

GENERAL
Any news about cricket in DOMINICAN REPUBLIC / HAITI / PUERTO RICO? Just send me an email on minorcricket@hotmail.com Come on you Jamaicans - let me hear you!

© 2001 CricInfo Ltd