Israeli cricket team
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| Israel | |
 |
|
| ICC membership granted | 1974 |
| ICC member status | Associate member |
| ICC development region | Europe |
| Captain | Hillel Awasker |
| World Cricket League division | n/a |
| European Cricket Championship division | Two (subject to play off in 2007) |
| First recorded match | 22 May 1979 v USA at Solihull, England |
| ICC Trophy | |
| Appearances | 7 (First in 1979) |
| Best result | Plate competition, 1990 and 1994 |
| As of 10 September 2006 | |
The Israeli cricket team is the team that represents the country of Israel in international cricket matches. Despite being geographically part of the Middle East, they are members of the European Cricket Council.
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] Beginnings
As is most often the case, cricket was introduced to Israel by the British. Local enthusiasts managed to keep the game going once the British had left in 1948, but the game was struggling until the mid 1960s, when an influx of Jewish immigrants from cricket playing countries revived the game.
The first national league was formed in 1966, which lead the formation of the Israel Cricket Association (ICA) in 1968. The league prospered despite conditions ill-suited to cricket. Games were played on dusty, grass-less football fields, on matting wickets. However, the enthusiasm of the players has overcome these drawbacks.
[edit] ICC Membership
Israel became an associate member of the ICC in 1974, with only Pakistan opposing their membership. Israel competed in the first ICC Trophy in 1979, and have competed in every one since, with the exception of the 2005 tournament, for which they failed to qualify.
They haven't had much success in the ICC Trophy, but the 1997 tournament in Malaysia gave them a brief, though unwanted, moment in the spotlight. Malaysia does not recognise the state of Israel, and they faced political demonstrations throughout the tournament from the Islamic Party of Malaysia. They were the first Israeli sports team to play in the country.
In addition to the ICC Trophy, Israel have also competed in every edition of the European Championship.
[edit] 21st Century
Israel have been playing in Division Two of the European Championships, their highest position being 4th in 2002. In the 2006 tournament, the Israeli team were again met with protests, due to the ongoing crisis in the Middle East. Their first match, against Jersey was cancelled [1], and their remaining two group games were met by protests. [2]. Their play-off games were then moved to RAF Lossiemouth to be played under armed guard. The second of these games, against Greece was forfeited by the Greeks, who had travel problems. [3] Israel thus finished in seventh place.
Israel was due to host its first international cricket tournament in August 2006, the second division of the European Under 17 Championships. However, the tournament was cancelled for security reasons.
[edit] Tournament History
[edit] World Cup
Israel have never qualified for the Cricket World Cup.
[edit] ICC Trophy
- 1979: First round
- 1982: First round
- 1986: First round
- 1990: Plate competition
- 1994: Plate competition
- 1997: 21st place
- 2001: First round
- 2005: Did not qualify
[edit] European Championship
- 1996: 8th place
- 1998: 9th place
- 2000: 5th place (Division Two)
- 2002: 4th place (Division Two)
- 2004: 6th place (Division Two)
- 2006: 7th place (Division Two)
[edit] Cricket in 2007
Sometime in 2007, Israel will play a match against the winners of Division Three of the European Championship. If they win this game, they will remain in Division Two in 2008 while a defeat would relegate them to Division Three in 2009. [4]
