Costa Rica national cricket team

Costa Rica
Flag of Costa Rica
ICC membership granted	2002
ICC member status	Affiliate member
ICC development region	Americas
World Cricket League division	n/a
Captain	Julian Olivier
Coach	{{{current_coach}}}
First recorded match	18 March 2006, v Belize at Ladyville, Belize
As of 31 July 2007

The Costa Rican cricket team represents the country of Costa Rica in international cricket matches. They became an affiliate member of the International Cricket Council in 2002.^[1] Their international debut came at the first Central American Championship in Belize in 2006. They are due to make their ICC Americas Championship debut in Mexico in 2010.

History

Cricket was introduced in Costa Rica during the late 1800s by Jamaican immigrants coming to construct the country's railways. The sport continued to be played among the Afro-Caribbean population in the Caribbean coastal areas but its popularity began to decline.^[2] In recent years, however, more Costa Ricans are being introduced to the game and interest in the game is starting to grow.

Costa Rica became an affiliate member of the ICC in 2002. Their first international match was played on 18 March 2006 in the Central American Cricket Championship against Belize to whom they lost. They also lost their game against Mexico finishing third in the tournament.

Costa Rica also took part in the 2007 Central American Cricket Championship, losing to Mexico but recording their first international win against El Salvador and finishing second in the competition.

In 2008, Costa Rica took part in the inaugural Easter Cup, an international Twenty20 tournament, against hosts Nicaragua and El Salvador. Costa Rica dominated the tournament defeating both of the other sides. The second Easter Cup was held in the December of the same year. Costa Rica finished third beating El Salvador but losing to Belize.

The following year, Costa Rica took part in the third Central American Championship, which they also hosted. They finished fourth out of the five participating teams. Their only win in the new Twenty20 format was against El Salvador who they beat by 10 wickets.

Tournament History

Central American Championship

• 2006: 3rd place
• 2007: 2nd place
• 2009: 4th place

Easter Cup

• Apr 2008: 1st place
• Dec 2008: 3rd place

Future

Due to changes in the ICC membership requirements it is possible that Costa Rica may lose their affiliate membership status unless they participate in an official ICC regional event before 2011. Neither the Central American Championship nor the Easter Cup are official tournaments so Costa Rica must take part in the ICC Americas Championship if they want to maintain their status.^[3]

It has been announced that the ICC Americas Championship will be expanded to four divisions. Costa Rica will compete in the inaugural Division Four tournament in Mexico from 13-19 June 2010.^[4]

References

1. ^ Costa Rica at CricketArchive.com
2. ^ Englishmen seek to rejuvenate Caribbean cricket at A.M. Costa Rica
3. ^ Inactive national sides "on notice" at cricketeurope.net
4. ^ [1]