Qualification battle steps up as ICC Cricket World Cup marks two years to go
Davis Harrigan
February 14, 2013 marks two years to go until the flagship event of the international cricketing calendar, the International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricket World Cup 2015 (CWC 2015), which is being hosted jointly by Australia and New Zealand.
At the moment, a number of teams' full focus is on the Pepsi World Cricket League Championship (WCLC), currently being contested by ICC member nations who do not hold Test playing status. The two nations that finish at the top of the ladder at the conclusion of the WCLC, later this year, will be guaranteed entry into CWC 2015, to be hosted by Australia and New Zealand in February and March 2015.
This tournament gives the ICC's non test-playing members the chance to play a high standard of cricket whilst striving to enter the competition to win one day cricket's most coveted trophy.
Afghanistan, Canada, Ireland, Kenya, Namibia, Netherlands, Scotland and the United Arab Emirates will contest for the WCLC title with matches played across the globe.
How the competition works
Kenya and Ireland have had the biggest taste of success at previous ICC Cricket World Cup events. Kenya reached the semi-finals in 2003 and Ireland wrote itself into World Cup history by defeating England in a first round match in 2011, having reached the second stages of the competition four years earlier when it recorded a memorable win over Pakistan.
The WCLC is a seven round competition, with each team playing a two match series against each other. All teams will therefore play 14 matches in total. The first four rounds were played between June 2011 and July 2012. The final three rounds will be completed from March to September 2013.
A look at the teams in Pepsi WCLC 2013
Afghanistan: An underrated cricket team from Afghanistan has made a serious statement in the past few years against high-ranked opponents, progressing through the global rankings after appearing in the WCL Division 5 back in 2008. While they have not made a 50-over World Cup, the team played in the ICC World Twenty20 in 2010 and 2012, and currently enjoys full ODI status that was gained during qualification for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011. The likes of Mohammad Shahzad, Mohammad Nabi and Hamid Hassan are some of the most talented players outside the Test playing world.
Canada: The best-known player in Canadian history is probably John Davison, who smashed his way in 2003 to the then fastest century in an ICC Cricket World Cup, finishing with 111 from 76 balls. Despite not having made it past the first round in any ICC Cricket World Cup tournaments, Canada has still displayed they have some talented cricketers. Nitish Kumar is one of the brightest prospects in Associate cricket, as proved by some of his performances in the 2011 event.
Ireland: Has competed in the past two ICC Cricket World Cups and has a very strong squad. Led by Captain William Porterfield, the squad currently boasts batsman Ed Joyce talented youngsters Paul Stirling and George Dockrell and all-rounder Trent Johnston. The O'Brien brothers, Niall and Kevin, are also vastly experienced, having enjoyed successful county careers in England.
Kenya: Kenya has developed a strong cricket following since gaining ICC membership in 1981. The semi-final berth for Kenya at the ICC CricketWorld Cup 2003 was the highlight for the nation, thanks to outstanding performances by players such as Steve Tikolo, Collins Obuya (the current captain) and Thomas Odoyo. Recent performances have not lived up to those standards, but it will still be hoping to claim one of the four qualification places.
Namibia: Namibia made its only appearance at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 and failed to win a game. However, Namibia has played in every edition of the Intercontinental Cup (ICC's 4-day first class competition for the top non-test playing countries), and has gained significant experience from playing in South Africa's domestic competitions. Its performances at the ICC World Twenty20 2012 qualifier, where it defeated Ireland in a group match, have shown it can beat the top Associate sides. It is a team to definitely keep an eye on throughout 2013 as they journey towards qualification.
Netherlands: The Dutch has competed in four editions of the CWC, which included the team recording a victory over Scotland at the 2007 event. Undoubtedly the best moment in the history of cricket in the country came on a memorable night at Lord's in 2009, when it defeated hosts England on the opening night of the ICC World Twenty 2009.
Scotland: Scotland has participated in two previous ICC Cricket World Cup events (in 1999 and 2007) but without a win. Boasting a number of promising young players, including the likes of Richie Berrington, the squad includes batsman Kyle Coetzer, who plays for Durham in the English County competition.
United Arab Emirates: Some of the best cricket stadia outside of the Test playing world exist in the UAE, as well as a cricket team that has threatened to make it through the global stages of recent ICC events. Its only experience of playing in a major event was when it participated in the ICC Cricket World Cup 1996.
Pepsi ICC World Cricket League
Alongside the WCLC, the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League provides an alternative route into the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier for the ICC's Associate and Affiliate Members. Each division has six teams, except Division 8 that has eight teams, and the qualification pathway began in May 2009 in Guernsey. Each divisional event is played every two years and lasts 8 to 10 days in a round robin format, with promotion and relegation taking place between divisions.
Papua New Guinea and Hong Kong, who finished third and fourth in WCL Division 2 in 2011, will also take part in the Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2014, while the other two competing teams will be decided via the ongoing WCL divisional structure. Divisions 8, 7 and 6 were held during 2010 and 2011. Division 5 and 4 were played in 2012, while Division 3 will take place in 2013 in Bermuda. The top two teams in Division 3 will play in the CWCQ 2014, along with the six teams that didn't gain automatic qualification through the WCLC.
ICC Cricket World Cup 2015
The CWC 2015 will host 14 teams - the ten test playing nations (including Australia, New Zealand and England) plus the four qualifying associate nations. The final two of these nations will come from a 2014 Cricket World Cup Qualifier, to be played in New Zealand in early 2014 with venues yet to be determined.
Split into two groups of seven, each nation is assured of playing at least six matches at the ICC CWC 2015, even if they bow out after the first round. The top four teams will go on to the quarter finals. For more information about CWC 2015 Qualification, click here.
