THAILAND

Population: 63, 038, 247 (2007 estimate)
Population Aged 0-15: 22%
National Coach: Mohideen Kader
National Captain: Zeeshan Khan
Women’s captain: Sornnarin Tippoch
Cricket clubs:
Grounds: 13
Turf wickets: 5
Playing Season: Year-round

ACC Member since 1996
ACC Development Officer: Aminul Islam

2009 ACC Women’s Twenty20 Championship Finalists

Recent Achievements:

2006	Finalists, ACC Emerging Nations Tournament
2006	Third, ACC U-15 Challenge Cup
2007	Winners, Spirit of Cricket Award ACC U-19 Elite Cup
2007	Hosts, ACC U-15 Challenge Cup
2008	Hosts, ACC U-19 Challenge Cup
2008	Third, ACC U-17 Challenge Cup
2008	Third, ACC U-19 Women’s Championship and Winners of Spirit of Cricket Award
2009	Finalists, ACC Women’s Twenty20 Championship 2009
2009	Finalists, ACC U-19 Challenge Cup

Ninth in ACC Rankings for 2007 and 2008 seasons
Personnel qualified from ACC Courses:
Coaches: Level I - 11; Level II - 3
Umpires: Level I - 24; Level II - 7
Curators: Module I - 6; Module II - 1; Module III - 3; Advanced - 1

A peaceful revolution happened in Thailand in 2009, a year that was the best in their cricket history one in which the finals of two international tournaments were reached, one in which Thai cricket became increasingly associated with Thais – Thais of ethnic origin and Thai citizens with deep roots in the country.

Thailand has progressed considerably since the ACC took an interest in them and now stand as one of the true exemplars of cricket development. The game has spread across the large country, spreading out from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and Khon Kaen in the north, Hua Hin in the east and Phuket in the south.

The drivers of change may initially have been the Asian and Anglo-Antipodean expatriates but subsequent progress has all been due to the fact that once the game was taken to the indigenous population, Thai youth cricketing activity has flourished. Local Thai boys have a presence in the age-group squads and a number have played for the seniors already. Women’s cricket is a significant part of development activity. At the start of 2009 nets were put up for the first time in government schools, in Chiang Mai.

Facilities are in place in Bangkok and Chiang Mai to host multi-venue tournaments and the award of ICC Associate status in 2005 was due recognition of the potential that Thailand shows for cricket. Potential that is, to a large extent, being realised.

Greater exposure to competitive cricket will raise playing standards and allow them to climb the ACC tournament rankings. “If cricket is to prosper in Thailand then it needs to develop the local cricketing human capital,” says national coach and Association Chief Executive Officer Mohideen Kader, “not just players but umpires and coaches too.”

It is the women who are making the most significant strides. The women’s teams are 100% Thai (in contrast to the 75% expatriate men’s team) and they are playing some remarkably good cricket for those who have only been active for 18 months. “It is a tribute to the Thai character and to cricket that the game is flourishing in Thailand,” added Mr. Kader.


Finalists, 2009 ACC U-19 Challenge	100% Thai, U-19 Women	Khon Kaen’s U-16 cricketers


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CRICKET ASSOCIATION OF THAILAND
52/2 Ramkhamhaeng Soi 24
Ramkhamhaeng road, Huamark,
Bangkapi, Bangkok 10240
Thailand

Tel: +662 718 7358
Fax: +662 318 6824
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Website: www.cricketthailand.com