By Albert Akota
The International Cricket Council, ICC has blamed Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) performances on poor infrastructures by saying the country catch up with South Africa, Zimbabwe should things are harness properly.
ICC senior manager, development services, Andy Hobbs disclosed while speaking with the media at the Abuja National stadium during an interactive section with members of the Nigeria media.
Andy Hobbs is the leader of the ICC team that is in country for a 360 review of cricket activities in Nigeria.
He noted that with the huge population Nigeria has, if infrastructures are in place others giant cricket nations in Africa would be afraid to face Nigeria and urged the federation to ensure increase participation of the game at grassroots level.
“I think the potential in Nigeria is limitless is huge and I think the important thing is to get raw players at grassroots to increase it participations.
“You have already got the U-19 playing at the world cup and playing in the top 16 countries in the world and I think the National team is ranked 30 to 35 and with a little better support I think they can make up fast.”
The ICC top official also explained how the federation can increase the funding they get from ICC noting that the international body has an annual twenty seven million dollars, $27 million investment fund set aside for the development of cricket outside the traditional cricket playing nations.
“In terms of the investment from ICC that is driven by performance, on the pitch and off the pitch the better the increased funding they would get.
“The more cricket players, the more coaches, the more empires, the more facilities and the more supports they get commercially the increased funding they will get from ICC”, he said.
