Mexico, Costa Rica and Falkland Islands to debut

Three countries, Mexico, Costa Rica and Falkland Islands make their official debuts at the Americas World Cricket League Division Four tournament in Mexico City this week.

Although their representative teams have been active playing in informal tournaments such as the Central American Championships, this is the first ICC event Mexico and Costa Rica have taken part in. Most recently, Costa Rica played a Colombian XI in April in Bogota while Mexico visited Brazil for a friendly series last July.

It will be a case of going from famine to feast for Falkland Islands, who break their isolation in this tournament and soon after head to Falkland in Fife in the United Kingdom. From July 19 to 24 they will be one of three locations called Falkland to play in a triangular series. The others are Falkland (Fife) and Falkland (Newbury, Berkshire).

Only close followers of Mexican and Costa Rican cricket might be aware cricket in both countries dates back to the 19th century. Both countries have four-team leagues. Mexico has a handful of locally born players while Costa Rica has a couple, that is apart from Limon players who are descendants of West Indians who came to the country in the 1800s to work on the Limon-San Jose railway.

As is becoming the fashion at non-Test tournaments, a Twenty20 event has been added and will follow the 50-over one-day matches.

The venue is the Reforma Club, which apart from its own lush turf wicket, also has a football pitch and tennis courts.

50-overs tournament Monday, June 14 - Costa Rica v Mexico Tuesday, June 15 - Falkland Islands v Costa Rica Wednesday, June 16 - Mexico v Falkland Islands

Twenty20 tournament Thursday, June 17 - Falkland Islands v Mexico; Costa Rica v Mexico Friday, June 18 - Mexico v Costa Rica