UAE delighted to host T20 qualifiers: Sheikh Nahyan

Dubai - The Minister of Tolerance unveiled the glittering trophy in Abu Dhabi on Friday and also met the captains of the 14 teams

Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance, said that the UAE were delighted to host the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Qualifiers and hoped that all the 14 teams will enjoy the famed Emirati hospitality over the course of the tournament.
Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, who is also the Chairman of the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) unveiled the glittering trophy in Abu Dhabi on Friday and also met the captains of the respective teams.
The trophy was first taken to the Majlis of Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan and then to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
"We are delighted to host the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Qualifiers here in the UAE," said Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan.
"It's a marquee event for us and an auspicious occasion for the country. Over the next few days, we hope all the teams will enjoy the Emirati hospitality and go back with memories to cherish," he added.
Meanwhile, Chris Tetley, ICC Head of Events, said that the UAE was the ideal destination to stage the event because of the top class facilities that it has to offer.
"The UAE is an excellent location in which to stage this event with a number of world class facilities in close proximity to each other," said Tetley.
"We have staged several excellent events here in the past and I have no doubt that this event will be equally successful. Fourteen countries will battle it out to decide the six teams that will qualify for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2020 in Australia, taking place between October 18 and November 15. This event is the culmination of a global qualification process that offered all ICC Members the opportunity to reach the T20 World Cup," he added.
Meanwhile, the 14 captains and former Ireland skipper Niall O'Brien undertook a three-match cricket clinic for 100 pupils from the Zayed Cricket Academy and Al Ain Cricket Academy.
"The chance to represent your country in a World Cup is massive," O'Brien said on the sidelines of the event.
"I feel there is no greater motivation than that in sport. I participated in five and that was the pinnacle of my career. The tournament itself should be very competitive. I sense we will see a lot of upsets and whoever adapts best to the conditions and reacts well under pressure should make their way to Australia," he added.
Another clinic, involving O'Brien, will take place at the ICC Academy in Dubai on Saturday.
The Qualifiers takes place from October 18 to November 2.
Group A consists of Scotland, the Netherlands, PNG, Namibia, Singapore, Kenya and Bermuda, while hosts UAE, Ireland, Oman, Hong Kong, Canada, Jersey and Nigeria are in Group B.
The top team from each group will advance to the semifinal of the tournament whilst also securing direct qualification to the World Cup. Three more teams from each group feature in play-offs to determine the other four qualifiers.
james@khaleejtimes.com