Outside Edge: Zeeshan Maqsood’s T20 brilliance shows ICC’s folly over handling of Associates

Diary of a cricket obsessive

Will Gore
Thursday 10 March 2016 12:00 EST
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Ajay Lalcheta celebrates Oman's World T20 victory over Ireland
Ajay Lalcheta celebrates Oman's World T20 victory over Ireland (Getty Images)

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Qualifiers show strength in depth of world cricket

Catches win matches – well, sometimes. They can also win hearts and minds. Yesterday’s remarkable effort by Oman’s Zeeshan Maqsood did all three.

By any standards it was a piece of brilliance. True, there is a bit more reaction time at extra-cover than in the slips, but the slow-motion replays showing Maqsood hanging in the air, reaching at full stretch for the ball as it was driven past him at speed, tell their own tale. This was surely one of the moments of the entire World T20 tournament, whatever is to come.

The fact that unfancied Oman were victorious over those perpetual giant-killers, Ireland, was rich reward for Maqsood’s efforts – he got his team off to a flyer with the bat too. The Omanis’ excellence will also have heartened their own supporters and cricket fans generally. To see such a tightly contested and skilful match between two of the ICC’s Associate nations shows how much the game continues to improve at that level – especially in the shorter forms. But it also demonstrates how absurd it is that cricket’s governing authorities seem bent on doing everything in their power to limit the chances of Associates to play against the world’s best international teams on a regular basis.

“Naïve” England are an outside shot at best

England limited over captain Eoin Morgan
England limited over captain Eoin Morgan (Getty Images)

At least the format of this year’s World T20 once again allows the qualifying round among the so-called lesser teams to feel like a part of the whole. And there is no doubt it is being rigorously fought. Few would be surprised if Bangladesh and Zimbabwe made it through to the main draw, but they are by no means shoo-ins. Scotland have been a disappointment (including today) and proved once and for all that tartan sleeves have no place on a cricket field.

As for the big eight, each will come into the tournament feeling they have a chance – there is, after all, a rather more level playing-field over the course of twenty overs. India are favourites among many: they have home advantage; totemic stars in Dhoni and Kholi; and long experience of playing in front of enormous crowds thanks to the IPL. Australia, on the other hand, normally win most things so why not them again.

England, according to Eoin Morgan, will rely on “naivety” as an advantage – it’s a novel approach and there are plenty of players in his team with much to prove, but here’s hoping…

Changes to county game are sad but necessary

While many eyes will be focussed towards India for the next few weeks, those with a love of the domestic county game will be digesting the ECB’s recent announcement that, from 2017, the two divisions in the Championship will have unequal numbers of teams (eight in the first, ten in the second) and there will be fewer games. The T20 Blast will have a high summer spot to fit the school holiday season.

Some fans will be upset but, in truth, things can’t go on as they are – however intrinsically wonderful the county game, too few people watch it and cricketers’ schedules are excessive. Will it be the end of the ECB’s tinkering? Not a hope.

Young Pettini can help Leicestershire to success

Mark Pettini in action for Essex last season
Mark Pettini in action for Essex last season (Getty Images)

Mark Pettini’s move to Leicestershire from Essex was one of the more intriguing transfers after the end of last season. That he was subsequently appointed captain for one-day cricket underlines Leicestershire’s belief in a player of huge talent who arguably underachieved at Chelmsford.

I remember watching him play against my brother twenty-odd years ago in an under-thirteens’ Cambridgeshire league game. Pettini was probably the youngest player on the field, certainly the smallest and the best by about a million miles (with apologies to my brother).

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