CONTROVERSIAL OVERSEAS PLAN IN TATTERS [15/02/08 08:55:09]
The PDQ League's secret plans to stage some of its high profile fixtures at overseas venues lie in tatters this morning after details of the scheme were leaked to member clubs.
The controversial initiative by a select committee of the PDQ heirarchy follows the revellation earlier this week that the Premier League intend to stage some matches abroad, a suggestion that has received widespread condemnation in many areas of the sport.
A league official, who asked to remain anonymous, defended the plans and denied that there was any secrecy involved. He said that the competition's decisionmakers felt that this was a natural extension of the league's activities and afforded the massive positive that clubs would be able to play cricket all year round by taking advantage of foreign summer seasons.
He also claimed that there was a huge following of the league abroad and overseas cricket associations were enthralled by the prospect of staging such mouthwatering encounters as Cressing II v Great Braxted & Tiptree II and the level of local support could be expected to be considerable.
However a sinister side to the blueprint emerged when it was discovered that some teams had been treated more favourably than others with regard to the attractiveness of venues. Abberton's fixture list inlcuded games in Kabul, Basra, Gaza (top right) and Middlesbrough, whilst neighbours West Mersea were set to play in Sydney (bottom right), Dubai City, Mauritius and the Seychelles.
Opinion at the club was divided on hearing the news. Chairman of the Three Year Plan John Gallant was all in favour citing additional revenue streams and eased fixture congestion as big plus points whilst occasional third XI player Ben Woodrow was alarmed about the quality and quanitity of the teas that we might expect from some of our hosts.
Last words came from Head of Security John Stockbridge (68) who was was both appalled outraged by the suggestion. He raged "Its a f***ing disgrace and I will be considering my position very carefully if the club goes down this route."
