Dubai: The International Cricket Council (ICC) approved the UAE as the host for two major world cricket tournaments after the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) attended the governing body’s annual conference.
Mohammad Redha Abbas, chairman of selectors and member of ECB, and Mazhar Khan, the administrator, were at the conference that finished in London on Saturday.
Speaking to Gulf News, Khan said: “It’s a great honour to gain the approval from the ICC and figure among the countries that are hosting major tournaments. The UAE will now stage the World Twenty20 Qualifiers from November 15 and the Under-19 World Cup from February 10 next year.”
It was also decided that six teams from the UAE Twenty20 World Cup Qualifiers can gain entry to play in the 2014 Twenty20 World Cup, scheduled to be held in Bangladesh. “This decision has strengthened the UAE’s chances to play in the Twenty20 World Cup as the UAE has qualified to play in the qualifiers on merit as well as being the host,” Khan said. “The UAE is among the top Asian teams. Sixteen countries will contest in the qualifier to be held in all the UAE venues.”
The Under-19 World Cup will also be contested by 16 countries, said Khan, and comprise 10 full member nations and six associate member teams, as well as the hosts.
The ICC approved Afghanistan, who use Sharjah Cricket Stadium as its home ground, as an associate member. “We are delighted that Afghanistan is now an ICC associate member,” Khan said. “The UAE has played a major role in their development of their cricket over the last five years by providing facilities for training and matches.”
Khan also announced that Afghanistan is scheduled to play two one-day matches against Kenya in October. They will also play two Twenty20 matches against Pakistan and Sri Lanka in December.
The UAE, which has played a major role in supporting the membership of many Middle East cricket-playing countries, also welcomed Romania, which has become the latest ICC’s affiliate member.
The ICC has agreed that the eligibility criteria for a full member team player to play for his original associate member team be reduced from four years to two years. UAE cricket officials interacted with Jagmohan Dalmiya, the stand-in president of the Indian cricket board, and top officials from other cricket countries, who all remarked on the UAE’s imperssive cricket facilities.
