By RON FANFAIR
The Cayman Islands has replaced the United States, which was booted out of the regional International Cricket Council (ICC) Intercontinental Cup three-day qualifying tournament to be played in Toronto later this month.
ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed informed Americas Region manager Martin Vieira last Sunday that the United States will not participate in the series because the two warring factions running the sport in the country are unable to come to an agreement to send a representative squad.
"The ICC has been extremely patient in seeking to enable the two parties to agree on a team," Speed told the two factions in writing. "It's very disappointing for all concerned that you have not been able to agree on the final composition of the team.
"Regrettably, the game of cricket in the USA and the cricketers who seek to play cricket for the USA at the highest level are again the losers."
U.S. coach Faoud Bacchus agreed that the internal wrangling is destroying the game.
"At the end of the day, it's the players and the sport itself that will suffer," said Bacchus from his Florida home.
Former Trinidad & Tobago batsman Theo Cuffy, who is managing the Cayman Islands youth team, which is taking part in the Americas Cup Under-19 competition at King City this week, said the Cayman Islands gleefully accepted the invitation.
"We were monitoring the situation with the U.S. and were aware that perhaps we might be invited," Cuffy told Share last Sunday night just minutes after arriving in Toronto. "But to actually get the call and know that you are one of the participants is an opportunity that we will not turn down.
"We have started to rally the forces back home and I can guarantee that we will put out a competitive squad even though our season ended last month and most of the players are off the island on holiday. We have to be ready for this tournament because it's going to give us much needed exposure and help us build our case for Associate status if we do well."
Cuffy will return to Toronto later this month as the coach of the senior team.
Vieira said this is a great opportunity for the Cayman Islands to participate in first-class matches against Canada and Bermuda.
"It's somewhat sad that the U.S. players are being made to suffer because of what is happening at the administrative level of the sport in that country," said Vieira. "On the other hand, this is a big opportunity for the Cayman Islands and hopefully the benefits will do a great deal to advance the game in the country."
Canada will oppose Bermuda from August 23 to 25 while the Cayman Islands will meet the Bermudans from August 27 to 29. Canada and the Cayman Islands will compete from August 31 to September 2.
The matches will be played at Toronto Cricket Club grounds.
Middle-order batsman Ian Billcliff, who teaches in New Zealand, informed the selectors last weekend that he's unavailable for the series because of work commitment.
Canada was the runner-up in last year's inaugural 13-team competition, finishing behind winners Scotland.