By Brian Murgatroyd

IN HIS first week as ICC chief executive, Haroon Lorgat has announced the most significant funding package for the development of cricket in the history of the game -- a sum approaching £150 million over the next seven years.

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Lorgat said the ICC would be pumping funds into the development of cricket outside the 10 Full Members in a massive investment to further strengthen the game around the globe. "Thanks to agreements with our commercial partners, foremost among them the one we signed in December 2006 with ESPN STAR Sports, the game is financially secure," he said.

"The promise that brings means we can confirm we are making the biggest-ever investment in the game from top to bottom over the next seven years. From 2009, the ICC will pump almost US$300 million into our 94 Associate and Affiliate Members that make up the developing cricket world.

"We want to see results that challenge world cricket’s existing order. And we want to develop better players and better structures on and off the field, giving everyone the chance to be the best they can be.

"All Full Members will also benefit from substantial increases in funding from the ICC over the coming years, and this is in keeping with one of my aspirations for the game while I am the ICC’s chief executive officer – strengthening the game horizontally across the world, throughout our Full, Associate and Affiliate Members.

"This fresh cash injection highlights we are a not-for-profit organisation. All the revenue we generate from our events, broadcast and commercial agreements is ploughed back into the game. It is also an indication of how strong this great game is at present. Participation is at an all-time high in all our members at all levels."

Lorgat took over as ICC chief executive last Friday, succeeding Malcolm Speed in the top job. The ICC now has 104 Members, including 34 Associates and 60 Affiliates as well as the 10 Full Members.

Turkey, Estonia and Bulgaria are the latest to join the ICC family, having been granted Affiliate Member status at ICC annual conference in Dubai last week. It was an important week for cricket in Guernsey as the former Affiliate was upgraded to an Associate Member after fulfilling the qualification criteria.