Eight of cricket’s emerging nations will be hoping to take one step towards qualification for the 2011 World Cup when the World Cricket League Division 3 gets underway this Sunday (May 27) in Darwin.
The top two teams from this event will join UAE, Namibia, Denmark and Oman
in Windhoek, Namibia at the ICC World Cricket League Division 2 November. The top four teams from the event in Namibia will automatically qualify for the ICC World Cup Qualifier in the UAE in 2009, while the two remaining teams will have a second chance to qualify for the UAE tournament at the World Cricket League Division 3 in early 2009.
Click here for the full team-by-team preview.
I may be a severe critic of the ICC, but this is one area where they have got it right - there needs to be a structure that gives non-Test playing nations regular match-practice against teams of a similar ability, and the opportunity to make a step up in class when they've proved they're good enough. I think that the divisional structure of the World Cricket League goes a long way to achieving this, though it's important that the ICC also works hard to ensure that matches are played outside the big tournaments.
As for the teams, I hope that Uganda and Tanzania do well - for the long term health of the game in Africa, another nation or two has to emerge, I think. Politically and economically, both Uganda and Tanzania are stable, and there's been encouraging signs of an interest in cricket there.