Costa Rica national cricket team

Costa Rica
Association Costa Rica Cricket Federation
International Cricket Council
ICC status Associate member[1] (2017)
ICC region Americas
WCL n/a (regional tournaments)
International cricket
First international Costa Rica Costa Rica v. Panama 
(Panama; April 2002)
As of 4 September 2015

The Costa Rica national cricket team represents the Republic of Costa Rica in international cricket. The team is organised by the Costa Rica Cricket Federation, which became an affiliate member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2002[2] and an associate member in 2017.[1] Costa Rica's first recorded international match came in April 2002, when it toured Panama and played against the Panamanian national side.[3] The team's first international tournament was the inaugural edition of the Central American Championships, played in Belize in 2006. It has since regularly fielded teams in that tournament, and also made its debut in ICC Americas tournaments in 2010, at the 2010 Division Four event in Mexico.[4]

In April 2018, the ICC decided to grant full Twenty20 International (T20I) status to all its members. Therefore, all Twenty20 matches played between Costa Rica and other ICC members after 1 January 2019 will be a full T20I.[5]

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.[6] 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.

The official site for the Costa Rican cricket organisation can be found at http://www.costaricacricket.org

Tournament history

Central American Championship

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

Easter Cup

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

South American Cricket Championship

  • Aug 2018: 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.[7]

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.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 "Ireland and Afghanistan ICC newest full members amid wide-ranging governance reform". International Cricket Council. 22 June 2017. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  2. ↑ Costa Rica at CricketArchive.com
  3. ↑ Men's Cricket: 2002 results (ICC associates and affiliates). Retrieved 4 September 2015.
  4. ↑ Other matches played by Costa Rica – CricketArchive. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
  5. ↑ "All T20 matches between ICC members to get international status". International Cricket Council. 26 April 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  6. ↑ Englishmen seek to rejuvenate Caribbean cricket at A.M. Costa Rica
  7. ↑ Inactive national sides "on notice" Archived 31 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine. at cricketeurope.net
  8. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 11 May 2010.
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