The ICC World Cricket League Division 2 tournament will get underway with the game between Nepal and Namibia on 8th February. Six teams will play a total of eighteen matches, which includes fifteen round-robin matches alongside three knockout games, to determine the teams that will play in the Cricket World Cup qualifier.

The ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 is the 12th edition of the Cricket World Cup, scheduled to be hosted by England and Wales, from 30 May to 14 July 2019. The hosts, England, and the top seven other teams in the ICC One Day International rankings as of 30 September 2017 earned automatic qualification.

The World Cup Qualifier is scheduled to take place in Zimbabwe, from 4 March to 25 March this year. The bottom four full-members in the ICC ODI rankings will take part in the qualifiers along with six other teams.

Netherlands, Scotland, Hong Kong and Papua New Guinea became eligible for the Cricket World Cup Qualifier as they held the top four spots in the 2015-17 ICC World Cricket League Championship.

The last four teams in the Championship – Kenya, UAE, Nepal, and Namibia will join the top two teams [Oman, Canada] of the 2017 ICC World Cricket League Division 3. These six teams will play in the 2018 ICC World Cricket League Division 2 commencing on 8th February in Namibia. The highest ranked two teams in Division 2 will meet the requirements for playing in Zimbabwe alongside the other eight teams.

Kenya captain Rakep Patel reportedly said: “Qualifying would be the culmination of a journey that started when the World Cricket League cycle begun. We are thankful to have another shot at the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers. We are excited about proving to ourselves that we belong here.

“We have been having regular training sessions and we will play some warm-up games against Zimbabwe A before traveling to Namibia. Having played in the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2011, there is no bigger stage for a cricketer than the World Cup.”

Namibia captain Sarel Burger said: “Preparations have been going well, we are currently still busy in our Cricket South Africa competition in which we have been doing really well. We hope that we can carry this momentum into ICC World Cricket League Division 2. Players are understanding their roles in the team and players are taking more responsibility, so that is really exciting to see.

“Qualifying for the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier is only the first step, but it would be the reward for exceptional hard work for a long period of time. This qualification process started a couple of years ago, it would be of huge benefit to cricket in Namibia if we were to qualify.”

Nepal captain Paras Khadka stated: “ICC World Cricket League Division 2 will be like a royal rumble where every team will give their best in order to seal their places for next level. Therefore, this tournament means a lot to Nepal cricket.

“I am hopeful that we will get through this tournament as it is a stepping stone to the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier. We are excited that we are just two steps away from the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.”

Oman captain Sultan Ahmed said: “Our preparations have been playing practice matches locally and against the USA at home, which we won 3-0, and against Hong Kong in the UAE, which we won 2-1. We are all looking forward to the ICC World Cricket League Division 2.”

UAE captain Rohan Mustafa said: “The players are very excited to be given this opportunity to compete against such quality teams over a short timeframe. I have every confidence that we will do well in this tournament.

“It would be a fantastic achievement for us to qualify; it would a great morale boost for the team, as well as be a positive boost for the UAE’s cricketing future.”

 

Fixtures:
8 February: Kenya v UAE (Wanderers); Nepal v Namibia (WAP); Oman v Canada (Trustco UNITED)
9 February: UAE v Canada (Wanderers); Nepal v Oman (WAP); Kenya v Namibia (Trustco UNITED)
10 February: Rest/Reserve
11 February: Namibia v Oman (Wanderers); Kenya v Canada (WAP); UAE v Nepal (Trustco UNITED)
12 February: Kenya v Nepal (Wanderers); UAE v Oman (WAP); Namibia v Canada (Trustco UNITED)
13 February: Rest/Reserve
14 February: Nepal v Canada (Wanderers); UAE v Namibia (WAP); Kenya v Oman (Trustco UNITED)
15 February: Final (Wanderers); 3rd v 4th Playoff (WAP); 5th v 6th Playoff (Trustco UNITED)