Associates join T/20 bandwagon
Saturday, 2 August 2008
It's an exciting time to be involved in Twenty20 and the top six Associate nations get their chance at the big time when the World Twenty20 Qualifiers begin in Belfast Saturday, reports Cricinfo.
The two finalists will quality for the World Twenty20 in England next year, as will the third-placed side after Zimbabwe pulled out of the tournament.
Ireland, fresh from their European Championship success, will start in good spirits but will face stiff competition from pre-tournament favourites Kenya and arch-rivals Scotland, who both played in the inaugural World Twenty20 in South Africa. Canada, Netherlands and Bermuda are the other three teams involved.
With the concept of Twenty20 internationals still relatively new to the Associate teams, all six sides will start on a similar footing although Ireland will feel they have their noses ahead for three simple reasons: they are playing at home, are at full strength and have shown excellent form of late in the Intercontinental Cup and the European Championships.
"We'd always back ourselves, but we know it's going to be difficult," said Ireland captain William Porterfield. "There's so much at stake, not just in financial terms, but in terms of prestige. The competition in England is going to be an incredible experience, and we'd like to be there," he said.
Porterfield said his team's chances for next year's event would not end even if it failed to qualify for the final. "The fact that it looks like there is going to be a third place with the likelihood of Zimbabwe withdrawing, then it takes a wee bit of the pressure off.
"It means if we lose in the semi-final, then we're going to have a second chance to qualify. That third and fourth-place place-off game will probably be the most tense match of the entire competition."
These six teams last got together in a qualifying tournament in Nairobi in January-February 2007, for the World Cricket League Division 1. Ireland finished fifth then, while Kenya defeated Scotland by eight wickets in the final.
But, despite that pedigree, Kenya captain Steve Tikolo says his team are behind Ireland and Scotland in the pecking order. "In the Twenty20 format anything can happen but I think Ireland and Scotland are the two favourite sides because they are playing in familiar conditions while we are coming from hot conditions.
"We have worked extremely hard in England on a pre-event tour and have made sure we have all the resources and have all bases covered."
The two finalists will quality for the World Twenty20 in England next year, as will the third-placed side after Zimbabwe pulled out of the tournament.
Ireland, fresh from their European Championship success, will start in good spirits but will face stiff competition from pre-tournament favourites Kenya and arch-rivals Scotland, who both played in the inaugural World Twenty20 in South Africa. Canada, Netherlands and Bermuda are the other three teams involved.
With the concept of Twenty20 internationals still relatively new to the Associate teams, all six sides will start on a similar footing although Ireland will feel they have their noses ahead for three simple reasons: they are playing at home, are at full strength and have shown excellent form of late in the Intercontinental Cup and the European Championships.
"We'd always back ourselves, but we know it's going to be difficult," said Ireland captain William Porterfield. "There's so much at stake, not just in financial terms, but in terms of prestige. The competition in England is going to be an incredible experience, and we'd like to be there," he said.
Porterfield said his team's chances for next year's event would not end even if it failed to qualify for the final. "The fact that it looks like there is going to be a third place with the likelihood of Zimbabwe withdrawing, then it takes a wee bit of the pressure off.
"It means if we lose in the semi-final, then we're going to have a second chance to qualify. That third and fourth-place place-off game will probably be the most tense match of the entire competition."
These six teams last got together in a qualifying tournament in Nairobi in January-February 2007, for the World Cricket League Division 1. Ireland finished fifth then, while Kenya defeated Scotland by eight wickets in the final.
But, despite that pedigree, Kenya captain Steve Tikolo says his team are behind Ireland and Scotland in the pecking order. "In the Twenty20 format anything can happen but I think Ireland and Scotland are the two favourite sides because they are playing in familiar conditions while we are coming from hot conditions.
"We have worked extremely hard in England on a pre-event tour and have made sure we have all the resources and have all bases covered."