ICC to decide on Nigeria's bid

2005 ACA Meeting: The International Cricket Council[ICC] would have to decide on the propriety of Nigeria playing host to next year's Annual General Meeting of the African Cricket Association[ACA],officials of the continental cricket governing body have said.

This pronouncement was made at the just concluded
2004 meeting of the ACA held in Johannesburg,South
Africa,where the Nigerian representatives had tabled
the country's proposal before the assembly.

    Chairman of the Nigeria Cricket Association[NCA]
Dr.John Abebe told nigeriasports.com that the
gathering in Johannesburg,which comprised
administrators from cricket-playing nations in
Africa,gave tacit support to Nigeria's bid,but the
final approval rests with the ICC,the world organ.

    "We succeeded in persuading those at the meeting
on the imperative and importance of Nigeria hosting
the meeting next year,"said Abebe."However,we were
made to understand that our request will be forwarded
to the ICC for official seal.This we expect the ICC to
do in a few months' time."

    Another important issue thrashed out at the
meeting was the ratification of entries for next
August's World Cup qualifiers in Lusaka,Zambia.

    The meeting agreed on 8 number of participants and
declared that only two will gain direct tickets to the
2005 World Cup in Ireland.

    "They said the third best finisher,which we think
Nigeria is going to emerge,will have to join others
who failed to get direct qualification in another
round of qualifiers to be able to qualify and there
will be only one ticket available at that
level,"explained Abebe.

   By Dipo Okubanjo