With Maccabiah 2013 only four months away, the much anticipated Israel Cricket Association Day League, should see a thoroughly competitive season.

All players will want to impress the national selectors as the Cricket section of the Maccabiah Games, one of the biggest ever staged, with defending champions South Africa, runners-up India, bronze medallists Israel, fourth-placed Australia, fifth-placed Great Britain and newcomers Canada competing.

The opening match of the ICA Day League takes place on April 5 in Division between home team Young Ashdod, the 2011 champions and visitors Ra'anana, who won the title in 2010. Both teams have been active in the transfer market over the winter, strengthening their squads as they look to wrestle the title back from 2012 champions Super Lions Lod, who open their season on Saturday with a home match in Lod against Neve Yonatan.

There are two matches in the nine-team Division Two which gets under way 24 hours later. Ashdod 'A' hosts last year's second division runners-up Young Sri Lanka in Ashdod, while the Beersheva derby sees Lions Beersheva take on Be'ersheva 'A' who suffered relegation from the first division last year.

With several under-18 players competing in the league, the Israel under-18 Maccabiah squad is looking very healthy.

For more details about the league and venues, you can contact israelcricket@gmail.com.