The ICC released the schedule for November’s ICC Twenty20 Qualifying tournament on Wednesday (August 7) where Canada is included in an opening phase group composed of Ireland, Namibia, Uganda, USA, Italy, Hong Kong and the host United Arab Emirates (UAE). The other group in the opening phase of this ICC Qualifier comprises Afghanistan, the Netherlands, Scotland, Kenya, Bermuda, Denmark, Nepal and Papua New Guinea.
Six teams will qualify for the ICC World Twenty20 that is scheduled for March 2014 in Bangladesh. The two group winners in November’s Qualifier will automatically advance to the World competition. A series of cross-over intergroup games will determine the other four qualifiers. For the time being, focus is on the initial round-robin phase of the Qualifying tournament in the UAE. The finer points and relevance of the cross-over and competition final diminish to a certain extent if Canada is able to win the first phase qualifying group. There would be the cream of aiming for a win in November’s Qualifying tournament final to match a first phase top place in the qualifying group, and if Canada does not top the group, then the mesh of the cross-overplays would be expected to come into play.
Canada’s warm-up games
Canada is scheduled for a warm-up game against Afghanistan at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi, on November 12, then faces Bermuda in another warm-up game on November 13 at the ICC Academy, Dubai.
Canada’s group matches
Competition in the two qualifying groups begins on Friday November 15 when the long-term cricket rivals Canada and the USA will meet at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi. One would expect the USA to include some veteran players who did not appear in the recent Canada-USA Auty Cup series at King City, Ontario. But there can be some mysteries in the shape of US national cricket teams. Next day Canada faces the challenge of Ireland, also at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, which will be a key test.
Canada’s schedule continues on Monday November 18 at the Abu Dhabi Oval against Hong Kong and a game on Tuesday against Uganda on the same ground. Canada then faces host UAE at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on Friday November 22, so an extra element becomes added to this weekend’s T20 matches between Canada and the UAE at the Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club. Nambia provide Canada’s opposition on Saturday November 23 at the Abu Dhabi Oval and Canada wraps up the round-robin group phase of the tournament against Italy at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on the Sunday (November 24).
Inter-group playoff action begins on Tuesday November 26. (EN)