Cricket as a game has recorded a rapid growth in the Asian Subcontinent and one of the major reasons for this has been the establishment of the Asian Cricket Council in the year 1983.
The Asian Subcontinent established its supremacy in World Cricket with India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka winning World Cup in the year 1983, 1992 and 1996 respectively. Bangladesh earned their Test status in 2000 and are slowly but surely progressing in a right direction to make their mark in International Cricket.
In India, Cricket is a religion and the impact the game has, is very well reflected in the huge amount of money that Corporates are spending on this game. In all humility we can claim that 75% of the total revenue earned in Cricket world over comes from the Asian Subcontinent.
The Asian Cricket Council is now stronger than ever before with the Indian and Pakistan Boards resuming regular cricketing ties and the contest between India and Pakistan can be compared to the Ashes Series between Australia and England. The game of Cricket was one of the major factors responsible for the improved relations between India and Pakistan through people to people contact.
Cricket in the Asian Subcontinent has spread beyond its traditional boundaries and we now have China joining the Asian Cricket Council. China has taken up the development and promotion of Cricket in a big way by organizing coaching clinics, training camps, training for umpires and it would not be surprising to see China enter the international arena with a bang.
The Asian Subcontinent has successfully conducted two World Cups in 1987 and 1996 and it is indeed a matter of pride that India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh worked together and bid for the 2011 World Cup. The International Cricket Council has allotted World Cup - 2011 to the Asian Subcontinent and further recognized the fact that every third World Cup would be in the Asian Subcontinent.
I am sure that all the four countries will work unitedly to make World Cup 2011 a memorable one. ICC has also allotted Women's World Cup to India to be hosted in 2013.
The Asian Cricket Council joined hands with their counterparts in the African continent to promote and develop the game in their countries.
The Asian Cricket Council however, has a lot of responsibilities towards the development and promotion of the game beyond the four permanent test playing nations and according to me the following areas need to be addressed:
Assisting the members to develop good playgrounds across their country with proper basic infrastructure (emphasis need not be on large stadia)
Assisting members to develop better coaching facilities at the grassroot level by a continuous programme of training coaches to acquire knowledge and impart proper training skills to junior cricketers.
Assisting the members in establishing at least one "State of the Art Indoor Cricket Academy" in each country with all modern amenities.
Assisting the members to develop umpires, scorers, physiotherapist, physical trainers for the overall development of game of cricket in each country.
We have a great challenge ahead of us in developing Women's Cricket and the Asian Cricket Council will have to start programmes for Women's Cricket in all the member countries.
The Asian Cricket Council will need funds and the same can be achieved by proper marketing of the events like Asian Cup and seeking a greater share of development fund for the Asian Subcontinent from ICC.
In conclusion, I am confident that the Asian Cricket Council which has a well structured development programme for Cricket will help the individual members in the Asian Subcontinent to progress through proper infrastucture and training facilities coupled with competitive tournaments for Associate members. The four permanent test centres are committed to the cause of Cricket in the Asian Subcontinent and will extend all possible help in terms of providing coaches, umpries for training and also helping to raise funds.
