Dubai Sports City to Host World Twenty20 Qualifiers

The magnificent Dubai International Cricket Stadium will host 11 out of 17 qualifying matches, including six group stage matches, four Super Four matches, and the final.

The participating teams have been divided into two groups of four teams with Ireland, Scotland, Afghanistan and the USA making up Group A while Kenya, the Netherlands, Canada and the UAE will fight it out for supremacy in Group B. The finalists from the ICC WT20 Qualifiers in the UAE will qualify for a place in the ICC World Twenty20 to be staged in Barbados, Guyana and St. Lucia in the West Indies from April 30 to May 16. The winner of the UAE tournament will join South Africa and India in Group C while the runners-up will join Group D which includes the West Indies and England. Dubai Sports City is gearing up to ensure visiting and local cricket fans have a memorable experience in one of the world’s best stadiums.

“We congratulate the Emirates Cricket Board for securing the right to host this very important ICC cricket event in the UAE. We, at Dubai Sports City, are naturally delighted that we play a significant part and are kicking off 2010 on a high note with the staging of the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifying matches. We are proud that our venue has been chosen to host such a high profile event,” said, Maqbul Dudhia, General Manager Sports Business, Dubai Sports City.

“This is great for UAE cricket as the country’s team will have the added home advantage during the qualifiers of the World T20.

“The Dubai International Cricket Stadium has received international acclaim for its design and viewing capabilities for both sports and entertainment activities, and we are looking to roll out a busy 2010 calendar of events.”

Since the Dubai International Cricket Stadium’s opening in April 2009, the stadium has hosted two international cricket series, one national football event, and two Bollywood concerts.

Dubai Sports City is also home to the ICC Global Cricket Academy (GCA), part of the Academies Campus opening in early 2010. The ICC GCA will be an important focal point for international cricketing excellence and education, and will provide a great environment for coaching, game education and training in outstanding facilities and expertise.

ICC world T20 qualifiers

Groupings (In brackets are the seedings)
Group A
Ireland (1)
Scotland (3)
Afghanistan (6)
USA (8)
Group B 
Netherlands (2)
Kenya (4)
Canada (5)
UAE (7)
Tournament schedule
February 9: Ireland vs Afghanistan (9:30am), Dubai Cricket Stadium; Netherlands vs Canada (1:30pm), Dubai Cricket Stadium; Scotland vs USA (9:30am), Abu Dhabi Cricket Stadium; Kenya vs UAE (1:30pm), Abu Dhabi Cricket Stadium.
February 10: Canada vs Kenya (9:30am), Dubai Cricket Stadium; UAE vs Netherlands (1:30pm), Dubai Cricket Stadium; Afghanistan vs Scotland (9:30am), Abu Dhabi Cricket Stadium; USA vs Ireland (1:30pm), Abu Dhabi Cricket Stadium.
February 11: Afghanistan vs USA (9:30am), Dubai Cricket Stadium; Ireland vs Scotland (1:30pm), Dubai Cricket Stadium; Canada vs UAE (9:30am), Abu Dhabi Cricket Stadium; Netherlands vs Kenya (1:30pm), Abu Dhabi Cricket Stadium.
February 12: Super Four A1 vs B2 (9:30am), Dubai Cricket Stadium; Super Four B1 vs A2 (1:30pm), Dubai Cricket Stadium.
February 13: Super Four B1 vs A1 (9:30am), Dubai Cricket Stadium; Super Four B2 vs A2 (1:30pm) Dubai Cricket Stadium. Final (7:30pm) at Dubai Cricket Stadium.