ICC Intercontinental Cup matches rescheduled

The ICC today confirmed changes to the schedule of the ICC Intercontinental Cup which resumes later this month. The changes have been made in view of various travel advisories recommending against non-essential trips to Kenya.

ICC’s High Performance Manager Richard Done said: “It is difficult at any time to make late changes to international tours and this decision is no different because of the interest in cricket in Kenya. However, the safety of all participants is always our number-one priority.

“In conjunction with the three affected countries – Kenya, Namibia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) – and to ensure travel and other logistics could be put in place with some certainty, it has been decided to move the Kenya v Namibia match to the UAE.”

Nairobi was scheduled to stage the Namibia v Kenya match from 30 January to 2 February. This will now be played in Sharjah from 29 January to 1 February.

The Chairman of Cricket Kenya, Samir Inamdar said: “It is unfortunate that the ICC Intercontinental Cup match has had to be shifted from Nairobi. It is an extremely important tournament for the development of the game in Kenya and it would also have been an excellent opportunity for the local supporters to see their team in action.

“Although hosting is always our preference, we understand and accept the reasons and believe that these games should go ahead with some certainty.”

The ICC Intercontinental Cup tournament will resume with Namibia traveling to Sharjah for its fixture against the United Arab Emirates from 23 to 26 January. Kenya will then arrive in Sharjah on 26 January for its double-header against Namibia and then UAE from 4 to 7 February.

ICC Intercontinental Cup schedule:

23-26 Jan – UAE v Namibia, Sharjah

29 Jan-1 Feb – Namibia v Kenya, Sharjah

4-7 Feb – UAE v Kenya at Sharjah

7-10 March – UAE v Ireland, UAE (date to be confirmed)

27-30 March – Nambia v Netherlands, Windhoek

3-6 April – UAE v Netherlands, UAE

4-7 April – Namibia v Scotland, Namibia

4-7 July – Canada v Bermuda, Canada

9-12 July – Netherlands v Ireland, Netherlands

10-13 July – Scotland v Bermuda, Canada

16-19 July – Canada v Scotland, Canada

6-9 Aug – Ireland v Canada, Ireland

7-10 Aug – Scotland v Kenya, Scotland

16-19 Aug – Netherlands v Kenya, Netherlands (date to be confirmed)

3-6 Sept – Namibia v Bermuda, Windhoek (date to be confirmed)

5-8 Oct – Namibia v Ireland, Windhoek (date to be confirmed)

12-15 Oct – Kenya v Ireland, Kenya (date to be confirmed)

12-16 Nov – Final, Dubai

Points Table (as at 13 January 2008)

WO - outright win - 14 pts

WI - lead on first innings (also retained if outright loss) - 6 pts

LI - behind on first innings - 0 pts

LO - outright loss - 0 pts

TO - outright tie - 7 pts each

TI - tie first innings - 3 pts each Abandoned - 10 pts each

D - draw - 3 pts each

More information on the ICC Intercontinental Cup can be found at:

http://icc-cricket.yahoo.com/icc-events/intercontinental-cup.html

The ICC Intercontinental Cup has quickly grown in stature and profile since its inception in 2004 and is now the ICC’s premier first-class tournament is an integral part of the Associate Members’ cricket schedule.

Having previously been designed around a two-group, three-day format, the event has evolved into an eight-team, round-robin and truly global tournament featuring four-day cricket which gives those teams who do not play Test cricket the chance to experience the longer form of the game.

Scotland won the first ICC Intercontinental Cup in 2004, beating Canada in the final, while Ireland has been victorious in both events since then, beating Kenya in the 2005 decider and Canada earlier this year in the 2006-07event.

The final of the ICC Intercontinental Cup 2007-08 will take place in November 2008 in Dubai.