Barras gain ODI status

Normal, Sports
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The National, Tuesday February 4th, 2014

 THE Barramundis returned home on Saturday fresh from achieving their best ever result finishing fourth in the Super Six stage and also claiming ODI status.

Under the current International Cricket Council (ICC) regulations, the top six ranked (Ireland and Afghanistan as well as the top four from the One-Day Cricket World Cup qualifiers) Associate/Affiliate teams at the end of the tournament are granted ODI/T20 status.

With the Hebou Barramundis finishing fourth in the event, they have been granted ODI status. 

Papua New Guinea are one of six countries outside the 10 Test playing nations who have ODI status. 

They include Ireland, Afghanistan, Scotland and UAE who qualified for the Cricket World Cup. 

PNG and Hong Kong are the other two ODI status nations.

 This basically means that a 50-over fixture played between PNG and any other country with ODI status, on an ODI accredited ground and played in accordance with the standard ODI playing conditions, will be classified as such.

It also opens up opportunities to host international teams that have ODI status and that could also include the test playing nations as well. 

With the 2015 World Cup set to be hosted by Australia and New Zealand, there could be opportunities for countries to play several warm- up matches against the Barras en route to the World Cup.

PNG have also jumped rankings from 19th to 16th and have also secured significant funding from the ICC.

The Barramundis have a couple of weeks off before they resume training in preparation for their tour of Sri Lanka from March 19 to April 2.

Meanwhile, demoted countries Kenya, Canada and the Netherlands have expressed their disappointment at losing their ODI status.

“It is sad for Kenya cricket but there is nothing we can do about the situation,” read a statement from Cricket Kenya. 

“We have to wait for the team to come back on Sunday before deciding the way forward.”

The Kenyans finished fifth in the Super Six round of the tournament, while the Dutch and Canadian units failed to graduate beyond the group stage. 

Holland and Kenya had been an ODI nation since 2006 and 1996 respectively.

“No doubt our funding will take a hit, as well as a reduced playing program that will hamper our ability to continue to have a full-time men’s team,” added Cricket Canada president Ravin Moorthy.