Lismore council secures international cricket tournament

IN ANOTHER win for regional tourism, Lismore City Council has secured the Twenty20 ICC East Asia-Pacific Men’s Trophy cricket tournament.

Mayor of Lismore, Jenny Dowell and Laura Piekarski, ICC Representative, at the Lismore Oaks oval. Lismore has been awarded the 2014 Pepsi ICC East Asia-Pacific Men's Trophy. Picture: Mireille Merlet-Shaw

IN ANOTHER win for regional tourism, Lismore City Council has secured the Twenty20 ICC East Asia-Pacific Men's Trophy cricket tournament.

International Cricket Council representative Laura Piekarski inspected the grounds at Oakes, Heaps, Blair and Mortimer ovals yesterday.

She was accompanied by Lismore mayor Jenny Dowell and tourism services coordinator Mitch Lowe.

"We've heard nothing but good things about Lismore in terms of facilities here. There's four great wickets in close proximity to each other," Ms Piekarski said.

"They've proven themselves in the past and have hosted not only cricket, but football, baseball and many other tournaments as well.

"We're really hoping thelocal cricket associations and clubs get involved and we're also looking at engaging with the schools."

A selection of six to nine developing cricket nations will compete, chosen from Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, the Cook Islands, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Indonesia and the Philippines.

The tournament acts as an East Asia-Pacific regional qualifier, forming part of qualification for the ICC World Twenty20, to be staged in India in 2016.

Cr Dowell said the tournament, consisting of eight games from November 17 to 27, will be an excellent opportunity to showcase theregion.

"I think having up to nine teams from developing nations coming to use our facilities is great for cricket and it's great for our city because the players will be staying here for an extended length of time," she said.

"It's a good economic boost and it's also good for our local sporting reputation."

LCC tourism co-ordinator Mr Lowe said negotiations with the cricket council to secure the event had been lengthy, but had paid off in the long run.

"We've been liaising with the ICC and Cricket Australia for over six months to bring this tournament to town," he said. "Sports tourism is a real niche for Lismore, something that we are really good at, and our facilities support that."

Mr Lowe added that 50 to 60 volunteers would be needed during the tournament for various duties.

He invited anyone interested in helping out to phone the council on 1300 878 387.