From 1 April 2007, Denmark and Namibia will become part of the ICC High Performance Program (HPP) joining Scotland, Ireland, Bermuda, Kenya, Canada and the Netherlands.

The ICC Development Committee had originally planned that the HPP would expand from the inclusion of only the top 6 Associate members to servicing and supporting 12 teams from 1 April 2007. However, at the ICC Development Committee meeting on 7 November 2006, the Asia Region advised that it did not intend for any of its teams to participate in the Global HPP and that their relevant members would be assisted in this area regionally.

Subsequently, it was decided that the HPP for April 2007 to March 2009 would comprise the top 10 Associate & Affiliate members from the regions outside of Asia and that this would be based purely on senior playing team global rankings.

As their relevant rankings will not change in the short term, the ICC Development Committee confirmed the first two of these extra four countries to be Namibia and Denmark. The final two spots will be filled by the finalists of the World Cricket League Division 3 event in May-June 2007.

The overall goal of the HPP is to close the gap between the Associate nations and the Full member nations, with the basic principles being:

• Creating an International playing program for each country;
• Creating the best possible facilities to play and practice;
• Improving skill and fitness levels;
• Making time to practice and to practice meaningfully;
• Transition from amateur to professional philosophy;
• Creating a domestic pyramid of development.

The additional funding which these countries will receive can be put towards initiatives such as specialist coaching for national squads, overseas tours, hosting tours, high performance facilities and resources, and player placements overseas or in academies.

Danish Cricket Association vice-chairman, Thomas Kentorp, says that the program will be a resounding benefit to Danish cricket.

“The Danish Cricket Association really appreciate that we have been admitted into the ICC High Performance Program for 2007. In the last two ICC Trophy qualification tournaments for the World Cup - in Toronto 2001 and in Ireland 2005 - Denmark was runner up for a participation place in both South Africa 2003 and the CWC West Indies 2007”.

“One more win in either of these ICC Trophy tournaments and Denmark would have been playing cricket against the best teams in the world. This status as the 'nearly' team we will like to change in the next couple of years, and the ICC High Performance Program will be the main tool and incentive to improve the cricket standard in Denmark. “

Kentorp also remarks that the program will greatly impact on Denmark’s performance in the ICC World Cricket League.

“The Denmark team will participate in the WCL Division 3 tournament in Namibia in November 2007, and the ICC High Performance Program means that we can arrange warm up matches for our national team. The Kenya A team visited Denmark in July 2006 and Kenya has asked Denmark to return the visit to their country in 2007 in order to play a few matches in conditions similar to Namibia.”

“Other options for the 2007 season will be matches in Holland against Denmark's 'old enemy'. We are sure that our performance and playing standard in the WCL Division 3 will be optimal due to the help we'll get through the ICC High Performance Program”.