ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier - An Overview

Given the success of the 2007 and 2009 editions of the ICC Twenty20 World Cup, the International Cricket Council maintains its policy of including two associates in the competition. In the 2009 World T20, Scotland and the Netherlands got a chance to play with the professionals. The ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2009/10 determined who qualified for the 2010 edition of the World Cup in the West Indies. Eight Associate teams vied for two spots in the big event. They were divided into two groups as follows:

Group A: Afghanistan, Ireland, Scotland and United States of America

Group B: Canada, Kenya, Netherlands, United Arab Emirates

In Group A, Ireland and Scotland were the favourites-based on their history in ICC competitions. Afghanistan were rising stars who would likely cause an upset in at least one of their three group matches while the U.S.A., a team of expats, were rank outsiders.

Group B was a tough group, where all the teams played in a major ICC event at some point. The Netherlands and Kenya were the favourites in this group, although one could not discount Canada and the U.A.E.

== Format ==

The qualifying tournament consisted of two groups of four teams each. Each team in a group plays the other three teams once. Round-robin play determined the group winners and runners-up in both groups. The top two teams in Group A and B earned the right to play in the Super Four. In the Super Four, each team played two matches, with the match against the team from their previous group already counted. The Super Four was settled on a round-robin basis, with the top two teams advancing to the main event-the Twenty20 World Cup in the Caribbean.

== Group A results ==

Afghanistan was the surprise package of Group A, sweeping aside all comers in topping Group A with a maximum six points. Ireland finished second in the group, losing only to Afghanistan. The USA and Scotland tumbled out at the first hurdle, with Scotland getting the wooden spoon on account of an embarrassing defeat to the U.S.A.

== Group B results ==

The U.A.E. were hot property in Group B, as they defeated all other teams in the group. The Netherlands qualified for the Super Four as well, registering their only defeat of the group stage against the U.A.E. Kenya, originally favourites in this group, only managed one win over cellar-placed Canada.

== Super Four ==

Afghanistan, U.A.E., Netherlands and Ireland qualified for the Super Four. Afghanistan and the U.A.E., having beaten Ireland and Netherlands respectively, in the first group stage carried over their points from those victories. When the dust settled, Afghanistan and Ireland qualified for the World Cup. Afghanistan failed to achieve an unbeaten run after losing their penultimate match to Netherlands. The U.A.E., after their impressive start, failed to win any matches in the Super Four, while Holland only won the match against Afghanistan.

Qualified teams: Afghanistan and Ireland

Andre V is a freelance writer from the Caribbean. He is also a member of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Referees Association and an avid cricket fan.

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