Wednesday, Dec 04, 2013
Dubai: The UAE will take on Nepal in the opening match of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2014 (CWCQ), to be held in New Zealand from January 13 to February 1 next year.
The UAE team made a major breakthrough recently by qualifying for the ICC World Twenty20 in Bangladesh. That should stand the team in good stead as it launches a fresh campaign to clinch one of the remaining two slots in the 50-over ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 to be played in Australia and New Zealand from Febuary 14 to March 29, 2015. There are 10 other teams looking to qualify for the cricket showpiece.
The UAE narrowly missed gaining direct qualification for the 50-over ICC Cricket World Cup, falling short by one point in the World Cricket League. Ireland and Afghanistan gained direct qualification by topping the World Cricket League.
Canada, Hong Kong, Kenya, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Scotland and Uganda are the other teams that will compete in the qualification tournament in January. The UAE are placed in Group A along with Scotland, Canada, Hong Kong and Nepal.
The UAE will play a warm-up game against Uganda at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, Tauranga, in North Island, on January 10, and then another warm-up game against The Netherlands at the same venue the next day before they start off their qualification campaign.
Over a three-week period, 150 players from the ICC’s top associate and affiliate members will take part in 34 matches as they bid to clinch a World Cup ticket for their respective teams.
In the North Island, matches will be played at Mt Maunganui’s Bay Oval and the iconic terraced Pukekura Park in New Plymouth. In the South Island, Christchurch’s Hagley Oval will debut as an international cricket venue. Matches will also be played in Rangiora, Queenstown and Lincoln, with the Bert Sutcliffe Oval hosting the final of the tournament on February 1.
Speaking after the announcement of the schedule in Dunedin, ICC President Alan Isaac said: “I am certain this is going to be a fantastic event here in New Zealand. Many of the top associate and affiliate members are evenly matched and I am expecting some thrilling matches during the tournament. I know the teams will have some of the best facilities at their disposal here in New Zealand and this event will give the country a taste of what is to come with the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2015.”
By K.R. Nayar Chief Cricket Writer
Gulf News 2013. All rights reserved.
