CanadaCricket.com Forum

Some clarity from the ICC coming out of the World Cup Qualifier regarding the next competition cycle for Associates:
https://www.icc-cricket.com/media-releases/638841

Although PNG are the first side to be out of the Super Six race, there is plenty at stake for them in the remaining matches as they will be desperate to avoid the 9th-10th play-off, as this could see them needing to earn their place in the next ICC World Cricket League Championship through the cut-throat ICC World Cricket League Division 2, rather than directly qualifying for the next ICC World Cricket League Championship by finishing in the highest possible position in this tournament.

The two lowest-placed Associate Members in the 2018 CWCQ, (excluding the Netherlands, who have already qualified for the new 13-team ODI League commencing in 2020), will have to contest the next ICC World Cricket League Division 2 tournament in 2019.

So there will be another WCL2 in 2019 consisting of:
Canada
Namibia
2 Associates demoted from World Cup Qualifier
2(?) Teams promoted from 2018 WCL3

The press release also indicates there will be another WCL Championship, through the number of participants is not specified. Most likely 2 teams from the 2019 WCL2 will be promoted. If the ICC decides not to have the Netherlands participate in WCLC, a third team could be promoted. No word on the fate of the Intercontinental Cup as yet.

I wouldn't mind seeing the Intercontinental Cup scrapped in favour of more 50 over matches or a new T20 Associate competition. First Class cricket has no bearing on how the ICC funds Associates (and is of limited use for preparing Associates for the competitions that do determine funding), and is not marketable.

Have been saying FOR YEARS the Intercontinental Caper should be chucked!
Absurd ICC should be wasting all this $$$ trying to build up AAs for a dying format.

But I like the longest format the best. I'm way more interested in the ICup than the Americas T20. Am I one of those awful purist die-hards? I wish the Auty Cup still contained a multi-day game. I'm afraid the next installment will be heavy on T20. I realize that nobody is at the ground watching ICup but they are not at the ground watching the Western Canada T20 or BC Big Bash either.

Papua New Guinea and Hong Kong demoted to WCL2 for 2019. UAE and Nepal that squeaked by Canada (on net run rate and a last ball victory) in February take their places as ODI nations.

The ICC apparently intends to hold a second World T20 in as many years in 2021. They will probably have to turn around and hold the qualifiers for 2021 before the 2020 tournament is even held. #MakeItUpAsYouGo

According to the Danish Cricket Board, the 2018 WCL Division 3 will be held November 7th - 21st in Oman.
The participants are Oman, Denmark, Kenya, Uganda, United States, Singapore.

The top two teams will join Canada, Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong and Namibia in the 2019 WCL Division 2.

Full Schedule for ICC World Cricket League Division 3 in Oman in Nov 2018

https://czarsportzauto.com/schedule-ann ... 3-in-oman/

The lack of support for the Intercontinental Cup in the ICC's new vision for Associate cricket all but kills the notion of First Class cricket for Associates. Virtually all the members will think this a fair trade-off if it means more 50 matches.

The IC match with the Netherlands in 2013 could be Canada's last ever First Class match.

Instead Associates have League 2 and Challenge Leagues A & B to look forward to for 2019 - 2021.

USA Cricket announcing 2019 WCL2 will take place in April 2019: https://twitter.com/usacricket/status/1 ... 6107198466.

That would virtually rule out Canada as host.