Published: May 18, 2015, 10:13 PM (IST)
Edited: May 18, 2015, 10:13 PM (IST)
The winner of the ICC Intercontinental Cup featuring teams like Afghanistan, Hong Kong, Ireland, Netherlands, Namibia, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Scotland and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will earn a chance to play Test cricket.
The side that manages to win the round-robin of the league will play the bottom ranked side of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test ranking in the ICC Test Challenge in 2018. ICC Intercontinental Cup: Namibia, Hong Kong lock horns in pursuit of Test status
ICC Chief Executive David Richardson said: “The ICC Intercontinental Cup is now the platform for emerging nations to fulfill their ambitions of playing Test cricket. It will therefore be fantastic to see the strongest Associates face off in an exciting competition, with great context, that will showcase world cricket’s growing pool of talent,” according to usacricketers.com.
“This event, funded by ICC, forms part of the ICC’s global development programme. As preparations intensify ahead of the opening round in Namibia this weekend, I would like to wish all of the competing nations the best of luck,” he added. ICC committee meeting discusses possibility of Day/Night Tests, ODI rules, DRS
Dates for ICC Intercontinental Cup first round fixtures:
10-13 May – Namibia v Hong Kong, Wanderers
Match Referee: Dev Govindjee (South Africa), Umpires: Andrew Wynand Louw (Namibia) and Adrian Holdstock (South Africa)
2-5 June – Ireland v UAE, Malahide
2-5 June – Scotland v Afghanistan, Stirling
16-19 June – Netherlands v Papua New Guinea, Amsterdam
Dates for Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Championship first round fixtures:
15 May – Namibia v Hong Kong, Wanderers
17 May – Namibia v Hong Kong, Wanderers
22 June – Netherlands v Papua New Guinea, Amsterdam
24 June – Netherlands v Papua New Guinea, Amsterdam
25 June – Kenya v UAE, tbc
27 June – Kenya v UAE, tbc
25 July – Scotland v Nepal, tbc
27 July – Scotland v Nepal, tbc
The inaugural ICC Intercontinental Cup in 2004 was won by Scotland, while Ireland have emerged victorious on four occasions.
