In recent days Cricket Ireland issued a draft policy document setting out a new approach to the allocation of representative matches from the start of the 2013 season. The new approach is designed to provide a fair and transparent process for allocating matches to clubs.
Clubs are invited first to express an interest in hosting representative matches. It is hoped that as many clubs as possible will take on the challenge and will see it as something that they can use to promote the improvement of their ground and facilitates.
The level of volunteer effort that goes into staging any important match is acknowledged in the document and some additional support is promised for clubs. This may take the form of retained income [for the major games], hosting fees and a premium payment for clubs committing to staging major international matches. In addition the document holds out the possibility that in the medium term grants and loans may become available to help clubs further improve their ground and facilities.
Once clubs have indicated a willingness to be part of the hosting programme, Cricket Ireland, through a new Match Allocation Group, will discuss with the clubs the types of match they are currently capable of hosting. A checklist of venue requirements for the different types of matches has also been circulated.
Over the next few weeks the list of international and interprovincial figures for 2013 will be announced and clubs will be able to indicate how many and which type of matches they are interested in hosting.
Letters have been sent to clubs through the provincial unions and copies of the key documents are available on the Cricket Leinster Website [Regulations > Guidance].
The new approach to match allocation is an ambitious one, which will be pilot tested in 2013 with a view to finalisation in 2014. Comments and feedback to Cricket Ireland are welcome. In the meantime an early response from clubs is sought so that the work on finalising all the fixtures for 2013 can begin in earnest.