DOHA (Qatar): Qatar Cricket Association (QCA) is gearing up for the upcoming ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup qualifying campaign by hosting a couple of weekend matches.
The team will take part in the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup qualifying tournament in April this year which was delayed by a year due to COVID-19.
The ICC announced last December a rescheduled qualification pathway to the U-19 event in the West Indies, where 34 teams will compete for five World Cup spots.
Qatar along with Bhutan, Hong Kong, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and Thailand, will be aiming to make it to the second phase where they will join Malaysia, Nepal, Kuwait and UAE, who have made it to the second round based on their past record.
“The players of our U-19 and U-16 teams, who have earlier played for Qatar have been called to take part in the trial matches. We also have a few players recommended by the cricket academies in Doha,” said one QCA official on the sidelines of the match played at Lusail cricket ground of QCA on Saturday.
“We’re are in the process of finalizing the U19 team for the ICC World Cup. We have some talented players in both the U19 and U16 teams,” he added.
One team from the Asia qualifiers will make it to the final round along with four other qualifiers from other regions, and will join Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies and Zimbabwe.
Due to the depth in strength in the Africa and Asia regions, a two-division qualification pathway will take place.
The remaining five spots will be decided by seven regional events to be played in different continents – from Asia to Africa – starting in June 2021.
Besides Asia and Africa, teams from three other regions, Americas, East-Asia Pacific and Europe will have a one division qualifying process, with the winner of each regional qualifier claiming one of the five coveted places.
