Dubai: The UAE national team intensified its training for the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Twenty20 qualifiers being held in the UAE with Wednesday marking the start of a 30-day countdown to the event.
The 16-nation tournament is set to be held at the Zayed Cricket Stadium Abu Dhabi Ovals 1 and 2, Sharjah Cricket Stadium and the ICC Academy Ovals 1 and 2 in Dubai from November 15-30.
The UAE are in Group A along with Ireland, Namibia, Canada, Uganda, USA, Italy and Hong Kong. The teams in Group B are Afghanistan, Netherlands, Scotland, Kenya, Bermuda, Denmark, Nepal and Papua New Guinea (PNG).
UAE captain Khurram Khan and coach Aaqib Javed posed with the ICC World Twenty20 qualifiers trophy at the ICC Cricket Academy in Dubai Sports City this week, while Khan also skippered the UAE in a two-day warm-up match against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi last week.
Speaking about the Twenty20 qualifiers, Khan said: “It’s really exciting that once again the UAE has the opportunity to host the ICC World Twenty20 qualifiers. It will be a great opportunity for fans of the game, across the region, to come out and support the UAE and all the teams competing for those six places in Bangladesh next year.”
The UAE successfully hosted the second edition of the tournament in February 2010. That was contested by just eight teams — Afghanistan, Canada, Ireland, Kenya, Netherlands, Scotland, UAE and USA. After 17 matches played over six days at two venues in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Afghanistan and Ireland reached the final and qualified for the 2010 ICC World Twenty20, which was staged in the West Indies and won by England. Afghanistan won the qualifying tournament when they beat Ireland by eight wickets.
Following the professional manner in which the UAE hosted the event, the ICC also assigned the country to host the third edition in 2012. That time Ireland gained revenge on Afghanistan in the final as both teams qualified for the ICC World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka.
With the UAE once again hosting the qualifiers, the in-form hosts will be among the favourites to win the tournament and clinch a place in the World Cup.
