Cricket Scotland’s CEO, Trudy Lindblade, has been invited to join the newly formed World Cricket Connects Advisory Board, a prestigious body designed to shape the future of global cricket. This announcement marks an exciting milestone for Lindblade and the Scottish cricket community.
New Advisory Board Replaces MCC World Cricket Committee
The World Cricket Connects Advisory Board, which replaces the former MCC World Cricket Committee, aims to serve as a key forum for the discussion of strategic issues in cricket. It brings together prominent figures from across the global cricket landscape, including former international players, cricket executives, and influential figures from the cricket world.
The newly formed Board is chaired by Kumar Sangakkara, the former Sri Lankan cricket captain and ex-MCC President. Sangakkara’s leadership is expected to set the tone for the Advisory Board’s role in steering global cricket toward long-term success. The board will convene three times annually, including a face-to-face meeting at Lord’s in June ahead of the World Test Championship Final.
Some of the other distinguished members of the World Cricket Connects Advisory Board include:
- Jay Shah, ICC President
- Chris Dehring, CEO of West Indies Cricket
- Sourav Ganguly, former India captain and former President of the BCCI
- Mel Jones, broadcaster and former Australian international cricketer
- Andrew Strauss, former England captain and former ECB Director of Cricket
- Graeme Smith, former South African captain and league commissioner of the SA20
- Heather Knight, current England Women’s cricket captain
These influential figures are united in their mission to address key challenges facing the sport and ensure the game’s success on a global scale.
A Platform for Associate Cricket Voices
In her statement, Trudy Lindblade expressed her excitement about joining the Advisory Board. “I’m truly honoured to accept this invite to for the Connects Board. It was a pleasure to attend and speak on a panel at last year’s inaugural World Cricket Connects forum, which I felt was a hugely successful event, so I’m thrilled to be asked to sit on the new Connects Board on behalf of Cricket Scotland,” she said.
Lindblade sees her new role as a great opportunity to advocate for associate cricket, ensuring that smaller nations have a voice among the sport’s most influential leaders. She emphasized the importance of making an impact on the global stage for Scotland and the wider associate cricket community.
The World Cricket Connects Advisory Board aims to create a space for open and independent discussions around the sport’s future, while also promoting global unity and understanding.
Strategic Vision for Cricket’s Future
The purpose of the World Cricket Connects Advisory Board, according to the MCC, is to become the leading platform for strategic debates in cricket. The goal is to establish a consensus on issues affecting the game, ensuring that the future of cricket is shaped in a way that benefits players, fans, and stakeholders across the globe.
Lindblade’s appointment is seen as a significant step for associate nations, as it ensures their inclusion in high-level discussions with some of the most powerful figures in world cricket. For Scotland, having a representative on the Advisory Board is an opportunity to ensure that local challenges and opportunities are recognized and addressed on the global stage.
The board’s first official meeting will be held in June, setting the stage for further discussions on how to grow and develop cricket in various regions of the world.