Dear all

Firstly, I wish to thank each country for their cooperation over the past 5 months or so with regards to fulfilling all preparatory requirements in the lead up to the ICC East Asia-Pacific Cricket Challenge 2004.  This has gone a long way to ensuring the event will be a resounding success.

With the start of the tournament now less than two weeks away, this final Information Circular outlines the all important logistical facets along with other important information concerning the ICC East Asia-Pacific Cricket Challenge.

It is vitally important that all involved in the event have a thorough understanding of the contents of this document.  Therefore, I recommend that you distribute to all players, coaches, managers and umpires to ensure they know what to expect upon arrival in Japan.

Please note that I will be departing for Japan on Wednesday 19 May, so please forward any urgent queries to me prior to this date.  Once in Japan, I am unsure of access to email facilities, however I expect to have a mobile phone, for which I will provide you with the number once I have arrived.

Should you require clarification on any of the issues or topics raised in this document, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Kind regards
 
RUSSELL JAMES
Project Officer
International Cricket Council
East Asia-Pacific Region
Tel:  +61 3 9653 9924
Fax:  +61 3 9653 9911
E-mail:  rjames@cricket.com.au
 

ICC EAST ASIA-PACIFIC CRICKET CHALLENGE 2004

TOURNAMENT INFORMATION CIRCULAR NO.2

1. MAIN CONTACTS

The ICC East Asia–Pacific (EAP) Cricket Challenge will be hosted by the Japan Cricket Association (JCA).  

Prior to and during the event, contact details for key ICC and JCA personnel are:

Russell James (ICC)
Tournament Director
C/- ICC EAP Development Program
60 Jolimont Street, Jolimont
Victoria, 3002 Australia
Tel:  +61 3 9653 9924 (will advise Japan mobile shortly)
Fax:  +61 3 9653 9911
Email:  rjames@cricket.com.au

Robert Gilles Martineau (JCA)
Tournament Manager
Tel:  +81 542 635 619
Mob:  +81 (0)90 4197 7698
E-mail:  contact@japan-cricket.com

These persons should be each country’s main contact point prior to and during the tournament.

2. TOURNAMENT DATES / VENUE

The ICC East – Pacific Cricket Challenge will take place from Tuesday 25 May - Saturday 29 May 2004.

The Tournament will be played in Fuji, Japan on two cricket ovals which are side by side. Both are concrete pitches with permanent synthetic grass surfaces. Concrete (with synthetic grass) practice nets are also located at the venue.

2.1 Ground Facilities
There are no formal changerooms available at the venue.  Rather, marquees and portable toilets will be available for use.

3. PARTICIPATING TEAMS

Fiji, Indonesia, Japan and Tonga.

4. TOURNAMENT FORMAT

 Date Fuji No.1 Fuji No.2
Day 1 Tue 25 May Fiji v Tonga Indonesia v Japan
Day 2 Wed 26 May Fiji v Indonesia Japan v Tonga
Day 3 Thu 27 May Fiji v Japan Indonesia v Tonga
Day 4 Fri 28 May Rest day Rest Day
Day 5 Sat 29 May Final: 1 v 2 Consolation Final: 3 v 4

The winner will qualify for the ICC World Cup Qualifying Series Divisional event in Malaysia in February 2005 (along with Papua New Guinea, also from the EAP Region, 3 countries from the Asia Region, 1 country from the Europe Region, 1 country from the Africa Region & 1 country from the Americas Region). The winner of this Malaysia event will then qualify for the ICC Trophy in Ireland in July 2005 where they can possibly qualify for the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies.

5. FINANCES / TOURNAMENT AGREEMENT

The Competing Country / Tournament Agreement which each country has signed clearly outlines what is covered within the tournament budget.  Please refer to this document should you have any questions. In summary the tournament covers the following:
   - Airfares (squad of 17)
   - Accommodation (squad of 17)
   - All meals (squad of 17)
   - Team photos (x 20)

Competing countries must pay for all other relevant costs incurred that are not mentioned above.  These include, but are not limited to:
   - Any medical expenses (hospital, physiotherapy)
   - Any accommodation or catering (e.g. meals) costs 
      incurred by persons in addition to the allowed touring 
       party (17 persons)

Any additional costs are to be paid for prior to departure from Japan unless otherwise arranged.

6. SQUAD INFORMATION

Full squad information will be available in the tournament handbook.

7. VISAS FOR JAPAN

It is expected that all countries have organised visas where necessary.

8. INSURANCE

While ICC has limited public liability cover for the ICC EAP Challenge, no travel or medical insurance is provided for competing nations. It is therefore recommended that all competing countries obtain their own travel and medical cover for the event.

9. MEDICAL FACILITIES

A tournament doctor will provide teams with on-ground medical assistance during matches. For other medical requirements, e.g. hospital/physiotherapy, teams will be advised on a case by case situation.  Costs re outside match day medical attention must be paid by each country.

10. LIAISON OFFICERS

Each competing team will be provided with their own liaison officer, who will speak both English and Japanese (exact names and team allocations to be advised).
  11. ARRIVAL / DEPARTURE INFORMATION

All teams will be met at Narita Airport by their liaison officer and will be provided with bus transportation to the hotel, which is approximately a 4-5 hour trip.  Upon departure, a bus will again be provided to transport each team back to the airport.

Please note that if your squad has individual members not arriving/departing with the rest of your team, they will have to make their own arrangement to/from the hotel.  If any country is in this situation, please advise Russell James immediately who will advise re individual transportation options. 

Please note that any squad members arriving separately from the rest of their team will have to cover the cost of ground transportation themselves, the tournament will not cover this.  As a guide, a bullet train ride to Fuji costs approximately AUD$100-150 per person and bus service is approximately AUD$60 per person.

The itineraries below include air and ground transportation.  Please check the details for your country and contact me immediately if the information is incorrect.

ARRIVALS
Date Who Flight Arrival Time Airport Departure Hotel Arrival
Wed 19 May Russell James (ICC) QF 179 1900 NA 2200 (approx.)
Sat 22 May Brian Aldridge (Referee) & wife NZ 099 1630 1900 Midnight
Sat 22 May Tonga SQ 996 1655 1900 Midnight
Sat 22 May Fiji FJ 302 1700 1900 Midnight
Sun 23 May Neil Maxwell (Fiji player) QF 021 0635 1030 1530
Sun 23 May Dr G. K Harinath (Tournament Doctor) QF 021 0635 1030 1530
Sun 23 May Steve Davis (Umpire) SQ 998 0730 1030 1545
Sun 23 May Indonesia GA 880 0850 1030 1530
Mon 24 May Ray Shakespeare (Indonesian player) SQ 998 0730 0900 1400 (approx)
Mon 24 May Tim Anderson (ICC) SQ 998 0730 0900 1400 (approx)
Mon 24 May Martin Gleeson (ICC) SQ 998 0730 0900 1400 (approx)

DEPARTURES
Date Who Hotel Departure Airport Arrival Flight Departure Time
Sun 30 May Indonesia 0330 0900 GA 881 1100
Sun 30 May Tonga 0400 0900 NZ 090 1815
Sun 30 May Martin Gleeson (ICC) 0400 0900 SQ 997 1130
Sun 30 May Neil Maxwell (Fiji player) 0400 0900 QF 022 2045
Sun 30 May Dr G. K Harinath (Tournament Doctor) 0400 0900 QF 022 2045
Mon 31 May Tim Anderson (ICC) 0440 0835 SQ 997 1130
Mon 31 May Steve Davis (Umpire) 0440 0835 SQ 997 1130
Mon 31 May Fiji 1100 1615 FJ 303 1900
Mon 31 May Brian Aldridge (Referee & wife) 1100 1615 NZ 090 1815
Mon 31 May Russell James (ICC) NA NA NA NA

12. ACCOMMODATION

There are two accommodation venues for the ICC EAP Cricket Challenge:

Fiji, Tonga and tournament officials’ accommodation:   Indonesia and Japan accommodation:

Furuya Ryokan Hotel         Hotel Kashima
6-1 Heigaki-Chou          1138-7 Matsuoka
Fuji Shi, Shizuoka Ken, 416-0918       Fuji City, Shizuoka Ken, 416-0909
JAPAN          JAPAN
Tel: +81 545 61 0233         Tel: +81 545 61 0025
Fax: +81 545 64 6171         

The tournament office is also located at Furuya, on the 4th floor.

Accommodation is provided to participating countries on an arranged bed, breakfast, lunch & dinner basis.
  Getting Acquainted with Japanese Style Accommodation

Many of the hotel rooms at both accommodation venues are traditional Japanese style, known as Ryokan.

Ryokan are built in a traditional mode of Japanese architectural style and inside you can see and feel the Japan's beautiful culture and tradition.

Guests are obliged to remove their shoes at the entrance of a ryokan or any other kind of Japanese-style accommodation. Slippers are worn inside, except on the tatami matting in the rooms.

A room in a ryokan is usually a single large, undivided room floored with traditional tatami (rice-straw matting), with the only piece of furniture being a single low table (televisions may also be available). Doors are shoji (sliding screens), and decoration will usually be one or two simple ink brush drawings or scrolls. Seating in the room is on cushions, called zabuton, arranged around the low table. 

Guests sleep on futon (Japanese style bedding) laid out in the evening. It ordinarily consists of a mattress, sheets, thick coverlet, and extra blankets if needed. 

The toilet is usually Japanese-style. You don't sit on it but squat over it, facing the hooded end. Special slippers are usually provided for use only in the toilet cubicle. 

Baths
Most ryokan will have a communal bath, which is generally for separate sex bathing. Before going into the communal bath, you disrobe in an anteroom, placing your robe and underclothing in a basket or shelf compartment. The inn gives you a hand-towel to drape over your midriff while standing up in the bathroom. This towel is also used for scrubbing and drying. To take a bath, first sit on a low stool in front of a pair of hot/cold water faucets. Fill a bath pan with water, and pour it over your body to get soaking wet all over. If there are no faucets, use a bath pan to scoop water from the bath. If shower outlets are available, shower while seated on the stool, never standing up. Soap and rinse off thoroughly. Only then do you get into the bath for a good soak.

Always remember that the bath is used by all guests in common. It is important to keep the bath and bathing area clean while you are using it and to make sure it is clean when you leave. Do not rinse your towel in the bathing water. When bathing at a ryokan or a hot spring, it is important to follow the traditional bathing customs outlined above.

Dinner
Traditional Japanese meals consist of a wide variety of small dishes. A meal at a ryokan is a wonderful chance to try a variety of food. The ingredients used in ryokan meals reflect seasonal and local specialties. This is one of the charms of staying in a ryokan.

Source:   http://www.ryokan.or.jp/  /  http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/ 

12.1 Location
The hotels are located 5 minutes (walking) apart, and both are a 5-10 minute drive to the grounds.  There are various shops and other facilities located close to both hotels.  Details of other facilities close to the hotels will be outlined in the Tournament Handbook, which teams will receive upon arrival.

12.2 Rooms
Each team will be allocated selection of twin/triple rooms.  If your country would like to provide room allocations for players, please do so to Robert Gilles Martineau before Tuesday 18 May.  Otherwise room allocations will be made for you.

12.3 Laundry
Within the hotel agreement, each squad member will be able to have a set daily number (5) of playing clothing laundry items washed at no cost (match days only). Apart from this, a coin laundry is available. Instructions on how to use this service will be provided on arrival.

12.4 Other Costs
Other costs charged to room accounts including room service or telephone calls etc., are not covered by the tournament and must be settled by countries/individuals prior to departing the hotel.

12.5 Telephone
JCA / ICC recommend that each country encourage its players to purchase pre-paid phone cards before departure that will allow you to make calls from Japan. Hotel room do have phones (calls made at own cost).

12.6 Hotel Facilities
Vending machines dispensing snacks and drinks are installed on guest room floors.

12.7 Meeting Room
Tournament meeting will be held in either the dining room or another room depending on the number of people in attendance.

An induction re Japanese culture and protocol will also occur upon arrival/check-in.

13. CATERING

As outlined, all breakfasts, lunches and dinners will be covered by the tournament.

13.1 Dietary Requirements
In order to assist caterers, please advise Robert Gilles Martineau immediately if any members of your touring squad have any particular dietary requirements (i.e. vegetarian, halal, vegan etc.)

 14. PRE TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Sunday 23 May
It is suggested that teams relax and spend the day getting familiar with the surrounds and facilities.  The only formal activities planned for this day are:

6:00pm Tournament Referee / Umpires meeting

8:00pm Tournament Committee / Team  Managers Meeting (all organising  committee members & liaison officers to  be present)

Meals will be served as per rest day schedule.

Monday 24 May
This will be a fairly hectic day, with team practice sessions, tournament meetings, official photos and an opening ceremony.  Below is a draft schedule of activities for this day which should be read and understood by team management (please note that changes may be made closer to the day).

9:00am - 3:00pm Team Practice Sessions

12:00pm Team Photographs

4:00pm Team Captains and Coaches meeting  with Tournament Referee and Technical  Committee

5:30pm Change for Welcoming Function (formal  attire)

6:00pm Depart Hotel for Welcoming Function

6:30pm Welcoming Function - Dinner

8:30pm Evening Concludes

15. PRACTICE SCHEDULE

The practice day (Monday 24 May) schedule is outlined below

Team Time
Fiji 0900 - 1200
Tonga 0900 - 1200
Indonesia 1200 - 1500
Japan 1200 - 1500

16. MATCH DAY SCHEDULE

The match day schedule is as follows:

6:30am - 7:15am Breakfast
7:30am Teams board bus
7:45am Bus departs for ground
8:00am Bus arrives at ground
5:30pm Team board bus
5:45pm Bus departs ground for hotel
6:00pm Bus arrives at hotel
7:00pm Dinner

16.1 Hours of Play
9:15am to 12:45pm - First session
12:45pm to 1:30pm - Lunch
1:30pm to 5:00pm - Second session
17. REST DAY SCHEDULE / ACTIVITIES

Meal times during the rest day are as follows:

8:00am - 8:45am  Breakfast
1:00pm  Lunch
7:00pm  Dinner

Suggested team activities for the Rest Day will be provided by JCA/ICC (at own cost – further details & indications of amounts to be outlined in Tournament Handbook).

Teams/individuals not planning to have lunch in the hotel on the rest day must advise their Liaison Officer by 7:00pm the previous evening. A boxed lunch may be available on request if you intend to spend the day away from the hotel, otherwise any food purchased will be at the individual’s expense.

18. OFFICIAL COMMITMENTS / MEETINGS

18.1 Tournament Referee / Umpires Meeting
At 6:00pm on Sunday 23 May a meeting will take place between Tournament Referee Brian Aldridge and all umpires.

Venue: Furuiya Ryokan Hotel

18.2 Tournament Committee / Team Managers Meeting
At approximately 8:00pm on Sunday 23 May a meeting will take place between Team Managers, Tournament Director, Event Manager and Local Organising Committee to discuss administrative matters.

Venue: Furuiya Ryokan Hotel

18.3 Captains and Coaches Meeting
There will be a captains and coaches meeting at 4:00pm on Monday 24 May.  This will be facilitated by the Tournament Referee (Brian Aldridge), Tournament Director (Russell James), Tournament Manager (Robert Gilles Martineau and ICC EAP Regional Development Manager (Tim Anderson).

Venue: Furuiya Ryokan Hotel

18.4 Welcoming Function
On the evening of Monday 24 May 2004 a Tournament Welcoming Function will take place at the Hotel Grand Fuji, with all participating teams to be present.  This will commence at 6:30pm and conclude at 8:30pm. Formal attire (e.g. off-field team uniform) is to be worn.

Venue: Hotel Grand Fuji

18.5 Closing Function
A Tournament Closing Function/presentations will take place at the ground(s) after the Finals day’s play on Saturday 29 May 2004.  It will be in the form of informal-type BBQ.

Venue:   Fuji Ground No.1

Could Team Management please ensure that their squads are aware of the requirements regarding functions and meetings and ensure they are attended punctually.

18.6 Squad Information Sessions - Laws
Players, Team Managers and Coaches from each squad will meet with Tournament Referee, Brian Aldridge, and all umpires to discuss various issues relating to the playing conditions for this tournament and other general law-related questions.

Arrangements to be advised

18.7 Other Activities
The JCA is also looking at the possibility of involving local schools in the event (e.g. aligning with study of a certain country in lead-up) and further advice re activities in this regard on the days just prior to the tournament may be provided by JCA/ICC in due course. 

19. SPONSORSHIP

For those countries that advised ICC EAP of team sponsors and subsequently received approval, please ensure that the ICC guidelines regarding clothing specifications, and placement and size of sponsor logos etc. are adhered to.  These specifications have previously been provided (Section 14, Page 199, of the ICC Playing Handbook 2003-04).

20. CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT

Each participating country will be responsible for the provision of its own playing and practice uniforms and equipment, and any off-field team uniform.

Please note that playing uniforms for the ICC EAP Cricket Challenge must be traditional cricket whites.

20.1 Umpires Clothing
Each umpire is to supply their own uniform. This should be in the form of black pants and a white shirt (with collar). Appropriate headwear (predominately white/cream), shoes and sunglasses of the umpire's choice may be worn.

20.2 Cricket Balls
One four-piece red Kookaburra cricket ball will be used per innings during each match of the ICC EAP Challenge. While these will be provided by the ICC to Tournament organisers, participating countries will be responsible for supplying their own practice balls.

21. LAWS AND PLAYING CONDITIONS

The ICC EAP Challenge will be played under the MCC Laws of Cricket (2000 Code 2nd Edition - 2003, online at www.lords.org).  Current One Day International playing conditions will apply, as read in the ICC Playing Handbook 2003-04 (including the ICC Code of Conduct). Playing Conditions booklet is attached (will also be distributed prior to the tournament).

 
21.1 Umpires
The approved umpires for the ICC EAP Cricket Challenge:

Steve Davis (Australia)
Tony Cooper (Fiji)
Shahil Hameed (Indonesia)
Anton McCloy (Japan)
Semi Halanukonuka (Tonga)

ICC EAP is pleased to have International and Australian First Class umpire Steve Davis as part of the tournament umpiring panel. Steve is part of the ICC’s Emirates International Panel of Umpires. He has made 7 Test appearances and 38 ODI appearances.

21.2 ICC Tournament Referee/Umpires Manager
Brian Aldridge, New Zealand Cricket Umpiring Manager, will act as both the Tournament Referee and Umpires Manager.

22. TOURNAMENT TECHNICAL COMMITTEE

The tournament technical committee will be made up of the ICC Tournament Referee (Brian Aldridge), ICC Tournament Director (Russell James), and ICC EAP Regional Development Manager (Tim Anderson).

23. SCORERS

Each participating team will be provided with a scorer (names and team allocations to be advised). 

24. TOURNAMENT BOOKLET

A Tournament Booklet will be prepared and distributed to each team upon arrival (one for every player and official).

25. MEDIA 

If any country has a list of media contacts they wish to receive daily scores and updates from the ICC EAP Cricket Challenge, could these individual/company names and their e-mail and/or fax details please be forwarded to Robert Gilles Martineau immediately.

26. COUNTRY FLAG

Could each country please bring their national flag to the tournament.
 
27. ABOUT JAPAN

While retaining its time-honored culture, Japan rapidly absorbed Western technology during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. After its defeat in World War II, Japan recovered to become an economic power and a staunch ally of the US. While the emperor retains his throne as a symbol of national unity, actual power rests in networks of powerful politicians, bureaucrats, and business executives. The economy experienced a major slowdown starting in the 1990s following three decades of unprecedented growth.

 
© Lonely Planet Online

Full country name:  Japan (Nihon)
Population:   127 million
Capital City:   Tokyo (pop 12 million)
Language:   Japanese
Religion:   Shint?, Buddhism, Christianity.
Government:   Constitutional monarchy
Currency:  Yen
     - US Exchange Rate: 1Yen = USD 0.009
     - Aust.  Exchange Rate: 1 Yen = AUD 0.013
     - Fiji Exchange Rate: 1 Yen = FJD 0.016
     - Indo.  Exchange Rate: 1 Yen = IDR 78.9
     - Tongan Exchange Rate: 1 Yen = TOP 0.018

27.1 Climate
During May, daytime temperatures average in the mid 20s, with the occasional day over 30 degrees Celsius. Evening temperatures average 15°c.

27.2 Mt Fuji
Japan's highest mountain (3776m/12,385ft) is a perfectly symmetrical volcanic cone which last blew its top in 1707, covering the streets of Tokyo 100km (62mi) away with volcanic ash. On a clear day, you can see its volcanic cone from Tokyo, but this reclusive mountain is often mystically shrouded by cloud or, in winter, picturesquely capped off by snow.
 
27.3 Food
Japanese food relies heavily on simplicity and freshness, with many dishes eaten raw. A variety of different foods, mainly in small portions, are served at a meal with much emphasis placed not only on the appearance of the food but also on the tableware and on general presentation.

Rice is the most important part of a meal. Fish is very popular: Japan is famous for sushi vinegared rice eaten with seafood or vegetables). Other Japanese food includes sukiyaki (thin slices of meat served with vegetables, tofu and vermicelli), chicken, cooked salad, pickles and Konbu kelp (seaweed using for making stock, rich in monosodium glutamate). Miso is soup made from fermented soybeans. Dried pickled apricots are eaten frequently and sweet potatoes are used in making confectionery and cakes.

Lunch boxes - bento - are popular and contain a variety of foods including rice and pickles. Western fast foods such as burgers and pizza are also popular, especially with young people.

Japan is famous for sake (rice wine). Beer is also produced but green tea is usually served with food.