Cricket's associate nations fighting for futures beyond WorldT20 qualification

Barnaby Read 22:25 10/03/2016
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  • Netherlands coach Anton Roux does not like the ‘Associates’ label.

    As Ajay lalcheta and Munis Ansari pumped their fists and flailed their arms at the wicket of the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala on Wednesday, a nation announced itself on the international stage.

    From an outsider’s perspective, Oman had emerged victorious over an Irish side regarded as the best among the nations mostly undeserving of a place at the top table.

    Treated like outsiders at the big tournament, the Associate Nations – made up of 37 teams from around the world both burgeoning and flourishing – have made a habit of being a frustrating fly around the ears of the ICC with some enthralling cricket in recent years.

    Global tournaments and opportunities to play against the best in the world are becoming far less frequent for the smaller nations and it is increasingly disheartening for players and coaches of those countries.

    The announcement of a 10-team World Cup irked them all, but the fight remains.

    “These opportunities are so few and far between that when they come round the guys just love every second of it,” said Netherlands coach Anton Roux, who is not a fan of the ‘Associates’ label forced on his side and their peers. “If anything, we want more and the guys deserve more.

    “People must take note of that. Of course, we’re here representing Holland but we’re also representing the bigger cause and that is trying to show the ICC and world cricket that everyone belongs in this game and you can’t separate people, it’s unfair.

    “I hate using the word associates as it separates us from the rest of the world but I think all of us lesser known teams have proved a point that us guys are catching up and the margins are becoming smaller and smaller, especially in T20 cricket.”

    Roux has a point and the Netherlands are likely to have played the one Test nation this year after losing to Bangladesh in their opener, rather than the three they played in 2014 thanks to a superb run that led to the Super 10 stage and a memorable thrashing of England.

    Since that 45-run win over England in Chittagong in March, 2014 the Netherlands have not played a single full member in an official T20I.

    The UAE, who made their World T20 debut at that same tournament, haven’t played one of their ‘superiors’ since and the Irish – who did not get out of their group in 2014 – have also been left without a fixture against the big boys.

    Both the Irish and Netherlands camps have bemoaned the situation in press conferences during this tournament and the frustration is a widely shared feeling among the teams.

    For now, they must make do but don’t expect that to stop the likes of Oman from turning up and spoiling the party.

    The associates will not be resigned to the cheap seats quietly, or without question.

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