Morocco | Morocco to field full-strength XI against Norway; casting Club World Cup participation doubts

[pillowprocter]

If this happens to someone else can they callup replacements? Eg all of the top order batsmen are unavailable for the first match in a 3 match series

 

[Na Maloom Afraad]

If this happens to someone else can they callup replacements? Eg all of the top order batsmen are unavailable for the first match in a 3 match series

Yeah, Canada did that earlier in the season - https://www.planetcricket.org/forums/posts/3580177.html

Degree 7

Ruled out for the remainder of the tour/tournament
You can call-up a replacement if your player pool can support it

 

[Na Maloom Afraad]

Morocco and Spain to launch 'Intercontinental' bid for Knockout Trophy​

Tangier Gazette
November 29, 2001​

Insider reports originating from a top-level executive within the Moroccan Cricket Federation lay claim to the MCF potentially launching an 'Intercontinental' joint-hosting bid alongside Cricket España for the upcoming edition of the WCC Knockout Trophy. Originally, France had won the hosting rights for the tournament before a legal faux pas resulted in the French Cricket Federation being stripped from hosting the tournament owing, entirely to a failure in securing tax exemptions from the French government.

World Cricket Conference will convene their first Annual Summit in the first week of January next year, where a decision is expected on the future of the 2002 Knockout Trophy. Similar to how hosts for the first edition were selected, WCC had relayed to all interested members to prepare hosting bids for a vote to occur at the Annual Summit.

While no cricket federation has publicly revealed aspirations of hosting the tournament as of yet, there is expected to be a great deal of interest among all members.

MCF will also reportedly bid to co-host the tournament alongside Cricket España, but the exact details of the bid remain unknown at this moment. Heavy speculation suggests that each side of the bracket will be played on separate sides of the border, culminating in a final which is being quite heavily rumoured to take place at Grand Stade de Casablanca.

Most important detail of all, should the bid go through, Morocco will directly qualify for the tournament despite currently sitting outside of the Top-16.

Exciting times ahead for the Moroccan Cricket Federation and the nation itself with a momentous decision expected at the World Cricket Conference's first-ever Annual Summit.

 

[Na Maloom Afraad]

Raja Casablanca buy Cardiff in new Welsh competition​

Tangier Gazette
December 9, 2001​

As confirmed previously by the Welsh Cricket Board, Raja Club Athletic, the parent company owning Raja Casablanca in the Al Botola and Moroccan Cup cricket tournaments in Morocco, have expended their presence in the cricketing landscape by purchasing a team in a new cricket competition set to be launched by the Welsh Cricket Board.

Following the announcement of their tour to Poland, WCB announced their intentions of running a franchise style, first-class competition in 2002, with plans of potential expansions already in place. The newly minted first-class competition attracted bids from across the cricketing globe in a manner which impressed (and shocked) the WCB.

Named the Princes Gate Championship, owing to title sponsor Princes Gate, the tournament will see four teams compete in a double round-robin format. Information regarding the tournament will be revealed in great detail closer to its inauguration, but for now, the one certainty regarding the tournament is Raja Club Athletic's involvement.

Raja Club Athletic secured the franchise rights for a team based in arguably the biggest Welsh market in Cardiff. Raja Cardiff, locally trademarked as Raja Caerdydd, will not only take part in the Princes Gate Championship, but will also serve as a Player Exchange Programme between the Welsh Cricket Board and the Moroccan Cricket Federation, as both cricket associations look to expand their horizons and form a vital partnership to grow the game in their respective regions to benefit their national teams.

It is likely that Moroccan stars representing Raja Casablanca will be seen playing for Raja Cardiff when the tournament begins, but who will it be remains a mystery for now.

 

[Na Maloom Afraad]

Al Botola and Moroccan Cup schedules announced; premier tournaments return to 'traditional' triple round-robin format​

Tangier Gazette
December 18, 2001​

MCF has released the tentative schedules for the 2002 editions of the Al Botola and Moroccan Cup tournaments, with one glaring distinction of the previously tried page-playoffs format being MIA from the fixtures. It has been confirmed that both tournaments would indeed be returning to a somewhat traditional triple round-robin format, where each team plays the other team thrice - once at home, once away, and once at a neutral venue. At the end of which, the table-toppers would then be crowned champions.

However, there is one caveat to all of this. The final three rounds would only feature the top-two teams playing on neutral venues, with the third-ranked side getting one extra home game, and the bottom-ranked side getting two extra home games. This decision was taken to ensure that the competition holds its competitive edge that it always has, and the champions aren't determined halfway through, especially now that the Moroccan Cricket Federation has expanded and now consists of a fourth member in Maghreb de Fès.

Al Botola will kick off in the first week of January, with most of Morocco's national players missing for the initial few rounds owing to a clash with the AFCON Africa Cup of Nations. Soon after Morocco's first-class champions are crowned in the final round of Al Botola, the Moroccan Cup will kick-off in March and be played over the course of 23 days.

Both of Morocco's premier first-class and one-day competitions move from their usual mid-summer window to earlier in the year, finally yielding to concerns about players' health being put in danger by having cricket be played in the scorching African summer. What this means for the future iterations however, remains to be seen. It is likely Al Botola will clash with the Nations League next year (should Morocco qualify for it), and then have its later stages and the Moroccan Cup clash with the AFCON Africa Cup of Nations.

But the current impetus is on how the 2002 Moroccan cricket season shapes up, with mega tournaments and tours lined-up all throughout the year, including a prospective bid to co-host the WCC Knockout Trophy in April. All in all, the Moroccan Cricket Federation seems to be blooming, even if their cricketing results on-field aren't reflective of that.

 

[Na Maloom Afraad]

Welsh nationals Marnws Walker and Lewis Carey headed to Raja Casablanca​

Tangier Gazette
December 26, 2001​

Raja Casablanca announce two new signings with Marnws Walker and Lewis Carey, two of Wales' most prominent international players, headed to Morocco for the 2002 editions of the Al Botola and Moroccan Cup tournaments. Both players will represent Raja Casablanca via the Player Development Programme put in place between the Moroccan Cricket Federation and the Wales Cricket Board following the purchase of a new Cardiff-based side in the upcoming Welsh first-class competition called the Princes Gate Championship.

It is expected both Welsh nationals will be available for the majority of Casablanca's Al Botola and Moroccan Cup matches, with them only leaving the side to go on national duty during any potential national matches Wales might play clashing with the Moroccan tournaments. Whether or not their presence turns Casablanca's fortunes remains to be seen.

 

[Na Maloom Afraad]

Afghan 'Wonder Boy' Hazratullah Hamdi and Spanish stalwart Heinrich Silva link-up with Marrakesh Al-Fatah​

Tangier Gazette
December 31, 2001​

Marrakesh Al-Fatah, a team traditionally known for performing rather poorly in Al Botola and the Moroccan Cup, have confirmed two huge overseas signings in a desperate attempt of turning fortunes around. Spanish stalwart Heinrich Silva will link up with the club as one of the most-prominent cricketers in the world will be seen playing for a Moroccan club for the very first time. His inclusion will hopefully boost Marrakesh Al-Fatah's middle-order, a woe that has deeply affected them and played a significant role in their shortcomings, particularly in the longer format. It is hoped by fans and administrators of Marrakesh Al-Fatah alike, that a player of his calibre will be pivotal in steering this ship around.

Another particularly intriguing bit of news coming from the camp is the signing of 'Wonder Boy' Hazratullah Hamdi, an 18-year old Afghan opener who represents the Kandahar province in Afghanistan's Shpageeza first-class tournament. Not only is it a surprising signing which not many would have anticipated, it is also quite historic as the modern-day marvel from Maiwand becomes the first player from any associate nation to play in full-member first-class and 50-over competitions as prominent and world-renowned as Morocco's, potentially signaling the dawn of a new era where all players from associate nations are treated equally alongside their full-member counterparts in the world of cricket.

 

[pillowprocter]

Associate cricketers will play in the Island Championship:
Gayle Storm for Northeast Harpoons
Rishad Khan for Central Warlords
Thiago Messi for Tafea Pirates
Imad Waqar for Shefa Sharks

the first player from any associate nation to play in full-member first-class and 50-over competitions as prominent and world-renowned as Morocco's​

Are you saying our comp isn't prominent and world-renowned

 

[Na Maloom Afraad]

Are you saying our comp isn't prominent and world-renowned

Thiago Messi and Imad Waqar didn't make it to their national teams, Ankara Messi and Inzamam Wasim did... so maybe I am saying what you think I'm saying.

 

[pillowprocter]

Thiago Messi and Imad Waqar didn't make it to their national teams, Ankara Messi and Inzamam Wasim did... so maybe I am saying what you think I'm saying.

What about Gayle Storm, who made it to the joint-biggest domestic comp in the world

 

[Na Maloom Afraad]

What about Gayle Storm, who made it to the joint-biggest domestic comp in the world

I'll give you that, but that's the only thing I'll give you...

 

[Till Valhalla]

Are you saying our comp isn't prominent and world-renowned

You will soon see a statement from WCC supporting Morocco claims, the blatant favoritism/corruption. Atleast it's for a non European country this time.

 

[Na Maloom Afraad]

Club World Champions Rabat Al-Ittihad confirm signing Khuzaimah Rasheed and Godwin Hope​

Tangier Gazette
January 1, 2002​

Arguably the biggest club in all of Morocco, Rabat Al-Ittihad confirm the signings off Saudi opener Khuzaimah Rasheed and Zimbabwean maestro Godwin Hope for the upcoming season. Rabat Al-Ittihad have often considered themselves as the team to beat in Morocco. A proclamation that was validated last year when they went over to Canada and became Club World Champions in a calendar year where they went unbeaten in every single fixture they had. From winning Al Botola without a losing a single match, to winning their first Moroccan Cup, unbeaten no less, to eventually winning the Club World Cup without missing a single step - Rabat Al-Ittihad achieved it all last year.

A feat that is unlikely to be repeated by many, if any. However, Rabat Al-Ittihad are very optimistic they can continue their dominance and live up to the 'Invincibles' nickname with the signing of Zimbabwean batting lynchpin Godwin Hope, and frankly an unknown commodity in Khuzaimah Rasheed from a newly admitted WCC member - Saudi Arabia.

 

[Na Maloom Afraad]

Vasil Perez and Sylvester Osimhen to play for Maghreb de Fès in Al Botola and Moroccan Cup​

Tangier Gazette
January 2, 2002​

Maghreb de Fès, the fourth and newest members of the Moroccan Cricket Federation, are the last team to confirm overseas signings on the eve of Al Botola opening day. Spain's highest wicket-taker in international cricket with over 100 scalps in 42 appearances, Vasil Perez, has confirmed his participation in the Al Botola and Moroccan Cup tournaments for Maghreb de Fès. While negotiations were ongoing, it is believed that Perez was offered a much more lucrative contract by an undisclosed cricket board to play in their tournament before Maghreb de Fès got a wind of it and updated their offer to Perez and enticed him to sign for them by offering more money and perks in his contract.

"The Prince of Nigeria" Sylvester Osimhen had long been rumoured to have signed a one-season contract with Maghreb de Fès, but the club was hesitant in officially announcing his signing before getting closing the deal on Vasil Perez. It is hard to reason why, but that is what has been conveyed to us here at the Tangier Gazette by our inside sources.

 

[Till Valhalla]

Maghreb de Fès got a wind of it

Must be WCC chairman and his cronies.