ICC Cricket

Dubai (PTI): The ICC Medical Committee, in its inaugural meeting here, has recommended revision of anti-doping regulations in the light of new WADA Code which comes into effect from the beginning of next year.

The committee noted ICC Full Members' commitment to have in place WADA-compliant Codes by the middle of 2009 and recommended that further consideration should be given to cricket's current testing strategies outside of major ICC events.

It also reviewed the ICC Standard Analysis Protocols that support the ICC's process for the review of bowlers reported with suspected illegal actions and set a timetable for the review of these protocols.

The committee had an extensive discussion on the impact of climatic conditions, including extreme heat. The members agreed that there should should be a better understanding of the impact of extreme-heat conditions on players but would make a recommendation later this year.

The members also expressed strong reservations about the use of medical science in the determination of a player's age at junior ICC events, an ICC statement said today.

The meeting, which will be held annually, was chaired by renowned sports medicine expert Dr Peter Harcourt and also included Dr Nick Peirce, Dr Akshai Mansingh, Craig Ranson physiotherapist) and Dr Anant Joshi as members.

The Committee, whose terms of reference were approved by the ICC Board last year in October, is empowered to make recommendations which then go forward to the Chief Executives Committee (CEC) and, if required, to the ICC Board.

An International Cricket Council (ICC) delegation has completed a security assessment of the volatile Pakistani city of Karachi for this year's Champions Trophy, an official said Monday.

The four-member ICC team, which includes two security experts, arrived on Sunday and inspected the National Stadium and two other practice grounds for the biennial Champions Trophy to be held in Pakistan from September 11-28.

"We are here today to review security as per the normal protocol. Such tours are completely normal visits for all ICC events," the ICC's Campbell Jamieson told reporters after completing the visit.The other members of the delegation are ICC member Bruce Ewan and two members of the ICC security consultant company from England -- James Withington and Kean Steele.

The delegation had to cancel an earlier assessment mid-way through when a state of emergency was declared in Pakistan in November last year.Early this year Australia also put off their March-April tour of Pakistan over security fears.But since general elections in February and the formation of a new government security has improved in Pakistan, allowing Australia to reschedule their tour in 2009 and 2010.

The ICC delegation will also tour Lahore and Rawalpindi before submitting its report to the game's governing body. Karachi will host five matches including one semi-final.The Pakistan Cricket Board has promised high-profile security for the eight teams participating in the Champions Trophy.Pakistan is also hosting the six-nation Asia Cup in June-July this year.

Foreign teams have raised safety concerns over touring the country amid political unrest and a surge in terrorism since the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.South Africa, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh have played in Pakistan in the past eight months.

South Africa played a three-day match and a five-day Test in Karachi on their tour, which started in September last year.But their last one-day match in the port city was shifted to Lahore after a blast targeting former prime minister Benazir Bhutto's homecoming parade.Bhutto survived that blast but was later killed in a suicide attack in Rawalpindi on December 27.

DUBAI (AFP) — The United States will take their first tentative steps on the long, gruelling road to the 2011 World Cup from Friday in the unlikely company of the likes of Germany, Nepal and Afghanistan.

America are one of 12 teams taking part in the ICC's World League Division Five in Jersey with the top two guaranteed promotion in the first step in the lengthy qualifying process for the World Cup to be staged in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Division Five matches will be played in Jersey from May 23-31 with the USA in Group A alongside Germany, Mozambique, Nepal, Norway and Vanuatu.Group B is made up of Afghanistan, Bahamas, Botswana, Japan, Jersey and Singapore.

"I believe we have a very good chance of going all the way," said USA skipper Steve Massiah whose team was banned from international cricket in 2005 and 2007 because of internal political wrangling.

"At the time we were excluded from international cricket we were playing with the top Associates and now we are down near the bottom. But as I told the guys, I think it could be a blessing in disguise as it gives us a chance to generate a bit of team spirit."

In April, the United States of America Cricket Association (USACA) was re-recognised as an Associate Member of the ICC.

Source: http://afp.google.com