Kuwait to host ACC Trophy Elite 2010

After a successful run of three ACC Trophy Elite competitions in Malaysia, Kuwait will be hosting the event for the first time. Kuwait Cricket Association (KCA) Director, General Asad Baig, said: "It is the biggest tournament in the history of Kuwait cricket so far and we hope not only that the home team does well, but also that we too as a nation do a good job for the ACC and all the visiting teams."

The fixtures for the competition have been announced and will be held between 31 March and 9 April 2010. The ten-team tournament has Bhutan competing at the senior elite-level for the very first time since it gained promotion from the ACC Trophy Challenge 2009.

The event promises to be the toughest tournament yet. UAE was unbeaten in the ACC Trophy Elite competition from 2000 to 2008, however in the last tournament, Saudi Arabia beat it in the group stages and it eventually lost the final to Hong Kong by three wickets. Since then Hong Kong has been joined by Afghanistan, Nepal and Singapore as serious contenders.

The newest ODI nation, Afghanistan, recently became the only Affiliate to qualify for the ICC World Twenty20 2010 after winning the qualifying event in UAE in February. The team always has strong support wherever it plays. Baig said: "We are expecting crowds of many thousands and are preparing for this turnout. The spectators are very supportive and passionate and although they are mostly Afghan supporters, they also appreciate good cricket."

ACC Program Coordinator Ganesan Sundarammoorthy added: "Afghanistan, Bahrain, Nepal, Singapore and UAE have been playing regular cricket in ICC tournaments over the past season and that definitely would have raised its standards. Kuwait is a challenging place to play and the team that wins this event, having gone through six matches over 10 days, will surely deserve the title of the best developing team in Asia."

For more information on the tournament including fixtures, click here