One month to go before the ICC World Cup Qualifier takes off in South Africa. All twelve squads have been named. In addition to the defending champions, Scotland, the other five teams that took part in the last World Cup were Bermuda, Canada, Ireland, Kenya and the Netherlands. This year the teams from Denmark, Namibia, Oman and United Arab Emirates from Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division Two and the two qualifiers from Division Three, Afghanistan and Uganda will be joining the list of this year’s contenders. This year, it is going to be a close battle between the twelve teams with each of teams trying to make it to the top four for getting qualified for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.

The ICC World Cup Qualifier - the tournament formerly known as ICC Trophy, is an important element of international cricket calendar. This is an initiative on the part of ICC to hunt out talented teams beyond the Full Members. The aspiring teams from North America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia participate in this tournament with the ambition of joining the ranks of World Cup players. The best of them qualify for taking part in the international cricket’s greatest event - the ICC Cricket World Cup.  

As goes the ICC norms, the four teams that finish at the top would qualify for the 2011 Cricket World Cup. The top six teams gain One-day international status for the following four years and also automatically qualify for the ICC Intercontinental Cup. The arrangement for the bottom two teams is; they would be sent down to 2011 ICC World Cricket League Division Three.

The 12 teams are split into two groups of six teams. The Group A comprises Ireland, Scotland, Canada, Oman, Namibia and Uganda. Group B consists of Kenya, Netherlands, Bermuda, UAE, Denmark and Afghanistan. Each squad faces the other teams in their group once. The top four from the groups enters into the Super Eight stage. In the Super Eight stage, each team play four matches against the sides they did not meet in the group stage. The top two teams in the Super Eight stage qualify for the final that is scheduled to be held at Centurion on 19 April.

The tournament kicks off with the all important match at Willowmoore Park between last year’s winner Scotland and their traditional rival Ireland. In the tournament that kicks off from April 1, the WCL Division Three qualifiers Afghanistan and Uganda can emerge as the dark horses. These new teams have seen enough of the established teams, but they are largely unknown to the top rankers. As such, these underdogs may bring in some elements of surprise in the tournament.

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."

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