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Jersey joins the ICC's second tier

Jersey became the 33rd country to be granted Associate membership at the ICC Annual Conference held last week at Lord's.

The decision comes after a successful 12 months for cricket on the island and makes Jersey the 11th European Associate Member joining the likes of Denmark, Ireland and Netherlands.

For Jersey the promotion means that local cricket will receive a huge cash injection from ICC - which is already earmarked for investment back into the development of the sport - and the potential for the Island to qualify for major international tournaments, including the World Cup.

"We're absolutely delighted. It's all happened very quickly and it's a credit to the way in which Jersey cricket is set up," said JCB director of cricket Chris Minty. "I don't think it's realistic to think that we would ever push to become a Full member, or that we are likely to see the likes of England or South Africa playing in the Island, but if you think about it, Bermuda qualified and played in the World Cup and they have a smaller population than ours. Technically, it could be possible that Jersey could one day be there, too."

Cameroon, The Falkland Islands, Peru and Swaziland were awarded Affiliate membership, taking the total number of ICC members up to 101. Jersey was the only country to be granted Associate Membership.

The Falkland Islands were elected with only one dissenting voice. Argentina abstained in the week that marked the 25th anniversary of the end of the Falklands War.