It’s a muggy early summer’s day in a Jersey seaside town; the pitch is bathed in late afternoon sunshine; spectators lounge on picnic rugs while eager boys face obliging fathers in impromptu games beyond the boundary rope. It is 80 for 7 and a nervous tailender faces the next delivery with a single run need for victory. It’s a familiar scene; scampered single, firm handshakes all round and back to the bar for a well-earned pint; a satisfying end to a more than satisfying day. The bowler delivers and the ball is angled past backward point for the winning run. Suddenly it is pandemonium! His teammates sprint onto the field screaming with joy and hoist him aloft. TV cameras are wheeled into position; the BBC interviews the jubilant captain. The unmistakable Panama hat of Geoffrey Boycott bobs its way through the throng to congratulate the winning captain. It is then that I remember; this is no ordinary fixture. An Afghanistan flag is draped around the captain as he leads his players in a victory dance to a chorus of applause. Jersey, the charming hosts and gallant losers, look on, reflecting perhaps on being part of a historic day in the island’s sporting history. 

For Afghanistan it has been a journey of enthusiasm, emotion and, ultimately, euphoria that began eight days earlier when they were one of twelve international teams arriving in Jersey to participate in their first ever pan-continental tournament. They were destined to be leading protagonists in what is the fourth chapter of the unfolding story of the World Cricket League, an ICC initiative to formalise the World Cup Qualification path and provide a competitive, global tournament structure for Associate and Affiliate nations. At the Mayfair Hotel, the tournament headquarters, the teams mingled and acclimatised, all harbouring ambitions of promotion to Division Four and taking a step closer to the glory of World Cup qualification. Nestling in beside the hotel concierge the ICC set up a tournament desk, with a tournament manager and press officer hot heeled from Dubai. Many of these players had never visited Europe before let alone represented their nation at a global tournament. Respect and recognition go a long way to instil confidence and pride in players. The ICC and the Jersey Cricket Board had achieved a notable success even before a game was played. For this they should be applauded. With many of the nations on view new to international cricket it was difficult to predict results on the field. The team attracting most interest was Afghanistan whose confidence was high after being joint winners of the Asian Twenty20 tournament, and in the process defeating teams much higher up on the WCL ladder. The prospect of a clash between Afghanistan and the USA had alerted the broadsheets in England angling for a scoop, and a group of enterprising documentary makers were ensconced in the Afghan camp.

 Other fancied teams were the USA, who had originally been placed in Division 3 before misadministration had led to a two-year ban and demotion, and Nepal who had achieved several Test scalps at under 19 level. The host nation qualified by finishing runners-up in European Division 2. They were buoyed by the qualification of former county all-rounder Ryan Driver and the appointment of South African Test player Peter Kirsten as coach. Two other former Test players in Clayton Lambert (USA) and Roy Dias (NEP) were passing on their experience in a coaching capacity. In truth some of the other nations, such as Vanuatu and Mozambique, were an unknown quantity. 

The story of the group-stages was Nepal’s Mehaboob Alam who took all ten wickets in bowling out Mozambique for a paltry 19. Norway’s Shahid Ahmed then struck the only century of the tournament. Inclement island weather ensured frustrating rain delays and bowler friendly conditions that saw many teams bowled out for less than 100. While the USA, Afghanistan, Nepal and Jersey emerged as decent bets for semi-final places drama also came from the minnows. This included a tied match between Japan and the Bahamas. Further drama came when Afghanistan were warned that their appealing had, at times, crossed the line between enthusiasm and intimidation.  Despite lacking variety in their bowling attack Jersey won all of their group games. Their young batsman, Peter Gough, was leading the tournament run aggregates with support from Steve Carlyon and the destructive Ryan Driver. Their battery of medium pacers combined consistency and economy. The players were quick to point out the impact made by Peter Kirsten in improving fitness and intensity.

Feedback on the facilities, organisation and pitches was positive with many tour managers clearly covetous of grass wickets. The biggest upset of the group stages came when Singapore defeated Afghanistan. The word amongst the media and spectators was that the Afghans were over-exuberant with the bat, looking to play too many big shots. In European conditions, against the moving ball they would have to temper confidence with circumspection. Singapore emerged as dark horses to sneak into the semi-finals.   With the cricket curtailed by persistent rain it seemed at one stage that the group stages might not be completed. When the tournament executive committee called all teams to a meeting a pragmatic solution was agreed, to enable Japan and Singapore to complete their group fixtures. However, the decision was reversed when the powers that be back in Kabul realised that Singapore could improve their run-rate and therefore gatecrash the semi-finals at Afghanistan’s expense. The ICC upheld their protestation and cited the relevant section of the playing conditions for the tournament. The end result was that Singapore had to score over 350 against Japan and bowl them out for less than 50 to make the semi-final. Despite scoring 89 off their first 10 overs they were unable to achieve the improbable. 

One of the great stories of the tournament was the Farmer’s Field pitch. A farmer on the island had converted a potato field into a beautiful cricket pitch, together with a charming wooden lodge pavilion. Not only did it provide a pleasing contrast to the municipal grounds in Saint Hellier but it also proved to have the most effective drainage. The club counts Geoff Boycott and Mike Gatting as honorary members. 

The semi-finals were the key games of the tournament as they determined promotion to Division 4, and assured the victorious players of a trip to Tanzania in October. Jersey faced the USA, while Nepal met Afghanistan.

Jersey put on a century opening stand with Steve Carlyon providing the foil for the classy Peter Gough. An elegant half-century confirmed Gough as the batsman of the tournament. With impetus provided by brother Johnny and Ryan Driver they posted 220. The USA seam attack of Baker, Shuja and Arwan were unable to make inroads as they had done in the group stages. The spin twins of Lennox Cush and Niraj Shah bowled with guile but were milked for singles. In reply Ryan Driver claimed three top order wickets in a penetrative opening spell. Inspirational captain Matt Hague then finished off the job with a five-for despite a powerful cameo from Rocky Marshall. The closing overs were described in partisan platitudes by BBC Jersey radio commentators. When the last wicket fell the clubhouse erupted. Richard Holdsworth, the European regional development manager, looked delighted with their efforts. 

In the other semi-final Afghanistan chose to bat under early cloud cover and lost early wickets to the impressive Alam and Das. Star all-rounder, and MCC player, Mohammad Nabi who made a determined 47, led the recovery. Nepal were set a target of 143. The Afghan seam bowling trio of Ahmadzi, Hasti Gul and Hamid Hassan bowled with pace, movement and hostility and left the total looking bigger than it was. Not for the first time in the tournament the top order proved fragile but this time the middle order couldn’t make amends, not even the impressive Malla. The Afghans had lived up to their billing and made it to Tanzania. Nepal and the USA would retain their place in Division 5 while the rest would return to their regions to re-qualify for the next cycle.  

Overall, the tournament proved that there is a considerable gulf in class between the semi-finalists and the rest, with the possible exception of Singapore. Jersey and Afghanistan will go to Division 4 with genuine hope of being promoted again and securing their berth in the Division 3 tournament in Argentina. For the rest the World Cup dream is over but they will have learnt a lot from the experience. Jersey were professional and personable hosts and I would expect them to be called upon again by the ICC in the near future. Batsmen that impressed included Orlando Baker (USA), Shahid Ahmed (NOR), Peter Gough (JER) and Gyandra Malla (NEP). The best all-rounders were Ryan Driver (JER), Mohammad Nabi (AFG) and Basant Regmi (NEP). The most impressive spinner was teenage sensation Param (SIN).  With the ICC considering adding a further three divisions the World Cricket League looks set to be an integral part of the cricketing calendar for years to come.     

Copyright: Cover Point