Cricket: World XI to create a United State of cricket

The world XI concept trialled in New Zealand may be used as a development tool to take cricket to the world.

The ICC has its eyes on the lucrative US market in particular and the FICA World XI would seem a logical way of doing it.

New Zealand's FICA representative Heath Mills confirmed discussions were under way with a view to expanding the concept.

"We would need the ICC to endorse the concept and where I think it has the most worth to the ICC would be twofold: playing the developing nations like Kenya and Bangladesh; and also filling holes in your future tours programme."

The USA has remained an elusive market for cricket bosses, although attempts have been made to mobilise its large West Indian and expat population into competitive leagues.

Mills said a World XI series in that country would be an ideal tool, much like the Harlem Globetrotters took basketball to new audiences around the world before it became a global game.

But the analogy with the Globetrotters is not strictly accurate.

"This would not be an exhibition team," Mills said. "We don't intend the FICA World team to play festival-type cricket. It would be playing good international cricket. That's where it'll gain credibility."

New Zealand Cricket chief executive Martin Snedden said that he would have no problem in releasing players to take part in such a venture.

"If it doesn't clash. The key here is the players weren't being taken out of anything, they were available," Snedden said.

"In those circumstances, sure. If the players are keen I think it's got really good potential."