Seven UAE grounds to host T20 qualifiers

Dubai: Seven UAE cricket grounds will stage the 2013 International Cricket Council (ICC) World Twenty20 qualifiers, which will be held from November 15 to 30.

The ICC announced the schedule for the matches at the weekend, with 16 countries set to play in the 15-day tournament.

Speaking to Gulf News, Mazhar Khan, the administrator of the Emirates Cricket Board, said: “Abu Dhabi’s two Oval grounds near the Zayed Cricket stadium will make their debuts as international grounds, with 22 matches scheduled to be played there. It’s a great honour for the UAE that all the international cricket stadiums in UAE are being used for this tournament.”

The seven venues which will stage the matches are: The Dubai International Cricket Stadium and ICC Academy grounds No 1 and No 2, Zayed Cricket Stadium and Abu Dhabi Ovals 1 and 2 and the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

The 16 teams have been divided into two groups, with last year’s winner, Ireland, in Group A alongside Canada, Hong Kong, Italy, Namibia, Uganda, US and the host United Arab Emirates. Meanwhile, Group B comprises Afghanistan, Bermuda, Denmark, Netherlands, Nepal, Kenya, Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Scotland.

David East, the chief executive of the Emirates Cricket Board, said: “We are happy and excited to host the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2013 for the third successive year. This qualifying event for next year’s ICC World Twenty20 2014 will take place ahead of the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2014, an event billed as the finishing school for future stars. The allocation of these two important events is an illustration of the faith and confidence the ICC has on the ECB in producing quality events. The ECB will ensure that it lives up to its high standards and will try it make the events memorable for the players, officials, spectators, media and the sponsors.”

The UAE stands a good chance of qualifying for the ICC World Twenty20 2014 scheduled to be held in Bangladesh in March. The top six sides from this tournament will qualify for the World Twenty20.

Tim Anderson, the ICC’s global development manager, who has been instrumental in the progress of many associate and affiliate countries, said: “The time has come once again for important and prestigious event on the ICC calendar in which 16 leading members amongst the associates and affiliates will vie for the six available places in the ICC World Twenty20 Bangladesh 2014. This final qualifier is the last step of a pathway that comprised 11 ICC regional tournaments during 2012 and 2013, and this time we will see six teams gain the opportunity to be a part of the global tournament to be held next year.”

This is the third time that the ICC World Twenty20 qualifier is being held in the UAE, which, through the successful staging of this tournament, has become the most favoured destination for all teams due to the proximity of all grounds, with teams not having to spend time commuting from one venue to the other.