Monday 19 March 2007

Plaid's Cricketing Election Pledge

Erthygl o'r South Wales Evening Post - 19/03/07

Article from the South Wales Evening Post - 19/03/07

A Carmarthen politician is hoping to knock opposition parties for six with a sporting election pledge.Plaid deputy leader Rhodri Glyn Thomas has called for a Welsh team at future World Cup cricket tournaments.

The Carmarthen East and Dinefwr AM pledged that if the pro-Welsh party got the nod at May's Assembly elections, he would lobby the International Cricket Council to include Wales in the 2011 world cup.

Welsh cricket legend Robert Croft backed the idea - but says some serious work would have to be done to get off the plan off the ground.

The Cricket World Cup, which started last week, consists of 16 teams, including Holland, Ireland and Scotland. Wales has an international side at present, but it does not feature in the tournament.

Mr Thomas said if nations with less of a cricketing tradition were allowed to compete, there was no reason why a Welsh team could not feature in the tournament.

He said: "I have no doubt that a Welsh team would hold its own.

"More importantly international status for Wales in terms of the world cup would be a massive boost for the sport of cricket in Wales."

Cricketer Robert Croft welcomed the move, calling the proposal "a lovely thought".

But he added: "There would have to be a lot of work done."

No comments: