New ICC World Cricket League info

[cleazer]

New ICC World Cricket League info

The ICC has launched a website dedicated to the WCL Div 1 tournament starting next week.
Check it out here. Not much new there, but it's a nice overview.

 

[cleazer]

Re: New ICC World Cricket League info

They also updated their WCL graph to show all 5 divisions:

and they added a nice rundown of all the 2006 regional qualifiers on this graphic

 

[timmyj51]

Re: New ICC World Cricket League info

USA has it's work cut out. If they don't finish in the top two at
Dawin (and they'll have to beat out PNG and Uganda, no cake walks) in just four months they're OUT of the 2009 WC qualifier altogether. If they
do finish in the top two in Darwin they then have to finish in the top
four in Namibia in November to qualify (and to do this they have to beat
out UAE, Namibia, Denmark, and Oman). Fortunately for them, if they
finish 5th or 6th they can still qualify by beating out a bunch of third rate
teams in 2009. So the Darwin showdown is critical. What's USACA
doing for preparation?

 

[cleazer]

Re: New ICC World Cricket League info

USA has it's work cut out. If they don't finish in the top two at Dawin (and they'll have to beat out PNG and Uganda, no cake walks) in just four months they're OUT of the 2009 WC qualifier altogether.

No, they're still guaranteed of a spot in either 2008 Div 4 or 2009 Div 3, so they've got a few chances left to get into the World Cup Qualifier. 1-2 advance to 2007 Div 2, 3-4 advance to 2009 Div 3, and 5-8 advance to 2008 Div 4. Obviously finishing in the top 2 is the heavily preferred result, but if that is out, then finishing 4th would still be a heck of a lot better than finishing 5th. (So you can skip the 2008 tournament and advance directly to 2009 Div 3.)

Right now, I'm thinking the US should be favorites to win, with Uganda and Hong Kong fighting for second place.

If they do finish in the top two in Darwin they then have to finish in the top four in Namibia in November to qualify (and to do this they have to beat out UAE, Namibia, Denmark, and Oman).

Oman is clearly the weak link in that group. I'm sure UAE, Namibia, Denmark, and the 2 teams from Div 3 will be competing for places 1-5, while Oman will be heavy favorites for last place. SO it should really be a battle between 5 teams for 4 places.

Fortunately for them, if they finish 5th or 6th they can still qualify by beating out a bunch of third rate teams in 2009.

Yeah, but it'd be much better to lock that spot up in 2007 instead of waiting for 2009. Because it's quite possible that 2008/2009 teams like Afghanistan, Nepal, Norway, and Singapore will be better than 2007 opponents like Fiji, Cayman Islands, and Oman.

So the Darwin showdown is critical. What's USACA doing for preparation?

I would assume they're doing nothing. Hopefully the players are staying active though. And who knows, maybe the US team will announce a few practice matches before they leave. Canada and Bermuda always make for good regional opposition.

 

[cleazer]

Re: New ICC World Cricket League info

Okay, I guess I missed this amidst all the World Cup matches over the past few weeks, but Argentina has officially replaced the USA in Division 3, and the US will take Argentina's slot in Division 5 in 2008, assuming the US is reinstated.

Revised WCL Division 3 details

Div 3
Group A - Papua New Guinea (1), Fiji (3), Italy (6) and Argentina (8)
Group B - Uganda (2), Hong Kong (4), Cayman Islands (5) and Tanzania (7).

Div 5
Group A - Norway, Afghanistan, Nepal, United States (subject to lifting of ICC suspension)
Group B - Jersey, Singapore, East Asia Pacific entrant*, Botswana

Bizarre that the 2 best teams here (US and Nepal) are sitting down in Division 5. If this grouping holds up, sucks to be Norway.

 

[cleazer]

Re: New ICC World Cricket League info

The latest word from Divsion 5 is that it will be held in Jersey next year.

Also, it has been increased from 8 to 12 teams, with the extra 4 being Germany, Mozambique, Bahamas, and another EAP entrant.