Intercontinental Cup set to revive age-old rivalry

In a revival of one of the world’s oldest sporting rivalries, Canada and the USA will play each other in their opening match of the ICC...

In a revival of one of the world’s oldest sporting rivalries, Canada and the USA will play each other in their opening match of the ICC Intercontinental Cup, a new cricket tournament aimed at giving leading associate member countries exposure to the longer version of the game. The long-standing rivalry between the nations, which began in New York in 1844, will resume in a three-day game at the Brian Piccolo Park in Florida beginning on May 28.

The 12-match ICC Intercontinental Cup is being played across four continents between March and November 2004. It is the first time a first-class competition has been staged for countries below Test match level. The two nations have previously met on four occasions in ICC tournaments, at the 1982, 1986 and 2001 ICC Trophy competitions, and the recent ICC six nations challenge in March with the record standing at 2-2.

The contest at the ICC six nations challenge in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) saw the USA prevail by six wickets before going on to win the tournament and qualify for the ICC Champions Trophy in England this September.

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USA captain Richard Staple said his team was looking forward to renewing the rivalry and gaining experience in a first-class competition. “The ICC Intercontinental Cup is a tremendous opportunity for the game to excel among the associate membership of the ICC,” Staple was quoted as saying in an ICC press release. “There is now a little more focus on us because of our recent results so we will have to be ready physically and mentally to play and win.”

The Cup will see the top-ranked team from the matches played in each of the four regions (Asia, Africa, Europe and America) progress to the semi-finals and finals in the UAE in November. The chance for teams to play three-day matches is a major development opportunity for players to improve and become better equipped to handle the progression to the next level of competition.

Three matches have so far been completed. Nepal drew with hosts the UAE in March. In April, Nepal bounced back from its first-up loss to defeat Malaysia by nine wickets and Uganda beat Namibia by five wickets.

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