September 25 Wednesday 2002
ECB ponders ICC Trophy changes

LONDON: The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is likely to press for improvements in the scheduling before they stage the ICC Champions Trophy in 2004.

This year's event in Sri Lanka guaranteed that all sides would play at least two matches, after some teams travelled to Kenya for the ICC Knockout in 2000 and were eliminated after one game.

But with the 12 teams divided into four pools of three, it still meant that two of the qualifiers for the semi-finals were effectively decided by the result of a single match. The opening game, for example, featured Sri Lanka and Pakistan was decisive in Pool Four with Holland unable to mount a challenge against either. ECB chief executive Tim Lamb is also concerned about the amount of "hanging around" which teams have to endure.

"I think we need to look at whether we could play more than one match on any one day. "I know the broadcasters would be keen to spread it out but equally, you've got to take into account the interests of the players.

"The Australians, Sri Lankans and Zimbabweans have had to hang around for a long time, either to play in the next round of games or to attend functions. "I just feel that could be refined in order to make it a more sensible schedule," Lamb told BBC Sport.

The ECB may also look to spread the tournament around the country at three or four venues, but are unlikely many, if any, day-night matches. All the games in this year's competition have been played at two venues in Colombo, the Sinhalese Sports Club and the Premadasa Stadium.

"The quality of lights in our country is not as good as it is overseas because we don't have permanent lights at any of our international grounds, although Old Trafford has planning permission.

"Playing the matches in September with a bit of dew around could be a factor as well, so at the moment I would probably put my money on all the matches being day games, but we'll certainly keep an open mind on that," Lamb added.