Dubai: The UAE team that trounced Papua New Guinea (PNG) by 150 runs in the first Super Sixes match of the International Cricket Council World Cup qualifier on Sunday are now just one victory away from gaining one-day international status.
Speaking to Gulf News before his departure to New Zealand for the final stages of the qualifier, Mazhar Khan, the administrator of the Emirates Cricket Board, said that achieving the feat would be “monumental”.
The teams that finish among the top four will be given ODI status while the teams that finish in the top two will gain entry into the 2015 World Cup to be held in Australia and New Zealand.
The UAE have moved to the top spot in the Super Six table ahead of PNG on net run-rate, with four points each. Kenya’s victory over Hong Kong on Sunday has strengthened the UAE’s chances as Kenya entered the Super Sixes stages with no points and Hong Kong have been stopped from getting two points and from being level with the UAE.
The other strong contenders are Scotland and Namibia, whose match on Sunday had to be stopped due to rain.
Scotland had made 279 for 9 and Namibia were 59 for 2 in 12.1 overs but the match will resume on Monday. If this match is totally washed out. Scotland and Namibia will each get a point to take their tallies to three.
The UAE now play Kenya on January 28 and Namibia on January 30 in the last match of the Super Sixes.
