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 | | Thursday, 16 May, 2002, 15:53 GMT 16:53 UK Tangiers: Cricket's new home  Tangiers being developed as new cricket venue
The Sharjah Stadium in the United Arab Emirates has staged more one-day internationals than any other. And now The Cricketers Benefit Fund Series, which organises tournaments in Sharjah, is planning to put the game on the map in north Africa. International cricket is heading for Morocco with Sri Lanka, Pakistan and South Africa contesting a $250,000 competition in Tangiers from 12-21 August. A panel of International Cricket Council will inspect the facilities next month, but Chakib Nejjar of the Royal Moroccan Cricket Federation (FRMC) is confident they will pass muster. "I'm sure that the ICC team will find all facilities up to international standards," he said. Cricket in Africa Cricket was introduced in Morocco by diplomats from England and the Asian nations of Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. But the CBFS boss Abdurrehman Bukhatir has detected a keen cricket interest in Morocco. "Morocco is also very close to Europe and it will be very easy for Indians and Pakistanis living in Spain and Portugal to come over and watch matches," he said. Morocco has a pleasant Mediterranean climate and is cool during the sub-continental summer when it is difficult to hold sporting events in the region.
Bukhatir helped form the Moroccan Cricket Association (MCA) and the International Cricket Council has granted it an affiliate member status. Three cricket centres, in the capital Rabat, Tangiers and Casablanca, have been set up. A $25 million sporting facility has been constructed at Tangiers by Bukhatir's CBFS. The cricket stadium has five pitches for matches and another seven in the practice areas. Moroccan King Mohamed VI is also encouraging the project in the hope of attracting much-needed investment and tourist influx. Tangiers has also been proposed as a potential venue for Australia's series against Pakistan in August. Some Australian players have raised security concerns for the Pakistan tour following the suicide bombing in Karachi and led to the cancellation of the second Test. Cricket in Morocco is no match for football in terms of popularity, but officials are hopeful for the future. "We have a lot to learn, since cricket is a new sport in Morocco," said Amine Mejjati, who heads the FRMC technical commission. "But we already play a championship and an eight-team national cup," he said. | | See also:  Internet links: The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites Other top Cricket stories: Links to more Cricket stories are at the foot of the page. | ||||||||||
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