Canada WC Squad Hits Funding Crisis

Tue, Oct 15, '02

Canada's 2003 Cricket World Cup preparations have been hit by a major crisis even before a ball has been bowled.

The North American minnows are still yet to find a major sponsor to help them with their financial outlay, just four months before the start of the tournament. Travel and accommodation, alone, will run into thousands of dollars, and the president of the Canadian Cricket Association, Dr Geoff Edwards, realises that he faces a race against time to find the necessary funds.

"We don't have a major sponsor and it's a big problem for us at the moment," Dr Edwards said.

"There has been financial backing in the past from different provincial governments in Canada. There also used to be money coming from federal government, but that all stopped about six years ago."

Canada qualified for the 2003 showpiece in South Africa having finished third in the International Cricket Council Trophy on home soil, two years ago.

As a result, the team along with the three other non-Test playing nations, Namibia, Kenya and The Netherlands, received a share of the $1m donated to them by the ICC.

The money awarded was supposed to help with preparations for the World Cup, but Dr Edwards believes those finances are not enough to cover the overall cost.

"That money is only sufficient to help with the World Cup administration," he added.

"We have to also use some of that money to help the sport inside the country, but the only people who will benefit are the top players at junior and senior level and maybe some coaches and umpires. We really need more money at grass roots level."

"Of course, the World Cup is our immediate concern. There are contingency plans and we are hopeful for some fundraisers and sponsors to come on board soon. It will take a lot of volunteers to knock on doors, but it is getting very frustrating."

* SOURCE: BBC Sports.