USA World Cup preparations clouded in confusion

With only weeks remaining before the start of the Under-19 World Cup in Sri Lanka, preparations for the USA U-19 team are mired in confusion, with no clear sense of direction and what seems to be haphazard planning.

One issue of concern is funding for the U-19 team preparations. The ICC budget covers all squad airfares, accommodation, catering and match costs, etc., for the event and, in addition, the ICC makes available a $10,000 grant to all Associate qualifiers on the basis of them submitting a budget of team preparation costs (e.g. pre-event camp/training expenses, coloured uniforms, equipment, etc). The USACA has until January 6 to claim these support funds - and that this is also dependant upon the normal basic requirement for the release of any ICC funds to members of them being up to date with their submission of annual audited financial accounts to ICC. That could be sticking point as these have been overdue from the USACA since September 30. The other five competing Associates have all met these requirements and have already received their payments.

Meanwhile, offers for help from independent sources were rejected by USACA. Major League Cricket, noting that the original dates for USACA's selection and training camps were immediately before its own Interstate finals, offered the training opportunities and coaching by the first-class and Test players attending the tournament. USACA's response was to change their only training camp - they had announced there was to be only one instead of the original two - to a later date.

Then some California cricketers arranged for a special training camp in Los Angeles, paying for all expenses including travel. But after the arrangements had been made and air tickets paid for, one by one the East coast selectees announced they were dropping out because of pressures from their cricket elders, and the USACA followed up with a pointed statement that the so-called California camp was "not official".

At present, the only active support program is one being run by Laks Sampath, preparing and selling a USA U-19 World Cup booklet and raising money through donations and advertising apace. This is indeed a laudable venture, and the only problem here is that it may be somewhat late. It is also not clear if the effort has USACA support -- as per usual, there is nothing on the USACA website about it.

Whether all these matters will be resolved in the limited time available remains to be seen. At present, it looks as if the U-19 cricketers, having barely escaped US cricket politics to record their stellar performances in Canada, are back in the middle of it again. This time, escaping may be more difficult.