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from
The February issue of the ICC
European Development Program
ITALY PREPARES FOR MALAYSIA
For Italians few exotic countries, if any at all, are culturally more fascinating than Malaysia.
This is exclusively due to Emilio Salgari, a turinese writer of the turn of the XXth century
who, without ever travelling to those shores, wrote dozens of books on the legendary
Sandokan, "The Tiger of Mompracem",
and on his perennial fight with the no less famous Sir James Brooke, the white rajah
of Sarawak.
Partially true this may be, Brooke is a historical figure whilst Sandokan also existed
but was definitely less illustrious than his English foe, but what is definite is that on February
16th Italy will put foot on the plane heading towards Kuala Lumpur and the dream
(or nightmare) of a place in next July's ICC Trophy in Ireland.
Preparation for participation in this event, officially known as Division 2 of the World Cup
Qualifying Series, started as soon as it was clear on July 22 that Italy had won the European
Championship 2nd Division. 14 players to get in shape out of season with little to no
resources: not an easy equation to solve. In essence approximately 30.000 Euros have
been spent to insure that Italy defends Europe's honour as well as possible in the land of
the future ICC Chairman.
FILA and the European Cricket Council have been instrumental in allowing Italy to prepare as
well as possible. The clothing company sponsored two players, Kelum Perera and Francesco
Scarponi, hosted in Melbourne by team mate Nicola Puccio, whilst ECC unfroze
most of its 2004/05 ASP contribution to Italy in addition to its consolidated support to the
Italian Academy. Players also have contributed from their own
pockets with the two Sri Lanklan residents, Hemantha Jayasena and Samantha
Ketipe, returning to their homelands early, luckily to discover that they had not suffered any
damage from the Boxing Day Tsunami and, thus, being able to concentrate on their cricket. Likewise
for fast bowler Alaud Din, who spent November and December playing league cricket in
Lahore, whilst Valerio Zuppiroli and Edoardo Gallo where hosted respectively by Andrea Corbellari
and Alessandro Bonora in Cape Town. Joe Scuderi himself put up
wicket - keeper Gabriele Passaretti for a week in Nelson to check that the skills that made
him player of the Tournament in Belgium last July were still in full
alert.
So we are nearly there, in one month the tournament will be history and Italy, probably with
more relief than despair, will look back on an experience the validity of which in terms of growth
and development of game in the peninsula only time will tell.
February 2005
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