*Official* WCL - Global Div 2, UAE 2011

[laksh_01]

Table:
UAE (17)
Namibia (18)
Bermuda (19)
Uganda (20)
Hong Kong (21)
Papua New Guinea (22)

Squads:
Bermuda: David Hemp (captain), Curt Stovell, Fiqre Crockwell, Christopher Foggo, Jason Anderson, Irving Romaine, Lionel Cann, Rodney Trott, Deylone Borden, Malachi Jones, Stefan Kelly, Damali Bell, James West, Kyle Hodsall

Hong Kong: Najeeb Amar (captain), Nadeem Ahmed, Irfan Ahmed, Waqas Barkat, Adil Mehmood, Khalid Butt, Asif Khan, Courtney Kruger, Roy Lansam, Mark Chapman, Nizakat Mohammed, Moner Muhammed, Mohammed Khan, Maxwell Tucker

Namibia: Craig Williams (captain), Raymond van Schoor, Ewald Steenkamp, Sarel Burger, Gerrie Snyman, Andries Burger, Bjorn Kotze, Tobias Verwey, Kola Burger, Louis Klazinga, Bernhard Scholtz, Louis van der Westhuizen, Christoffel Viljoen, Helao La France

Papua New Guinea: Rarua Dikana (captain), Chris Amini, Assodallah Vala, Kila Pala, Andrew McIntosh, Willie Gavera, Mahuru Dai, Raymond Haoda, Chris Kent, Jack Vare-Kevere, Tony Ura, Vani Morea, Hitolo Areni, Jason Kila

UAE: Khurram Khan (captain), Mohammed Touqir, Naeem Aslam, Saqib Ali, Arshad Ali, Amjad Ali, Shadeep Silva, Amjad Javed, Nasir Aziz, Qassim Zubair, Ahmed Raza, Swanpil Patil, Irfan Ahmed Sajjad, Shaiman Anwar

Uganda: Mirza Baig (captain), Benjamin Musoke, Roger Mukasa, Laurence Sematimba, Frank Nsubuga, Hamza Almuzahim, Arthur Kyobe, Charles Waiswa, Davis Arinaitwe, Ronald Ssemanda, Deusdedit Muhumuza, Dennis Tabby, Henry Senyondo, Daniel Ruyange

Fixtures:
Apr 8th:
Match 01: UAE v Namibia, DSC Stadium
Match 02: PNG v Bermuda, GCA 1
Match 03: Hong Kong v Uganda, GCA 2

Apr 9th:
Match 04: Uganda v Namibia, DSC Stadium
Match 05: Hong Kong v Bermuda, GCA 1
Match 06: UAE v PNG, GCA 2

Apr 10th:
Rest Day

Apr 11th:
Match 07: Bermuda v Uganda, DSC Stadium
Match 08: UAE v Hong Kong, GCA 1
Match 09: Namibia v PNG, GCA 2

Apr 12th:
Match 10: Hong Kong v PNG, DSC Stadium
Match 11: UAE v Uganda, GCA 1
Match 12: Namibia v Bermuda, GCA 2

Apr 13th:
Rest Day

Apr 14th:
Match 13: UAE v Bermuda, DSC Stadium
Match 14: Hong Kong v Namibia, GCA 1
Match 15: PNG v Uganda, GCA 2

Apr 15th:
Match 16: 5th Place Playoff - TBC v TBC, GCA 2
Match 17: 3rd Place Playoff - TBC v TBC, GCA 1
Match 18: Final - TBC v TBC, DSC Stadium

(Top 4 qualify for WCL - 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers, Scotland 2013 & Top 2 Qualify for Intercontinental Cup)

 

[jashan83]

Table:
UAE (17)
Namibia (18)
Bermuda (19)
Uganda (20)
Hong Kong (21)
Papua New Guinea (22)

Squads:
Bermuda: David Hemp (captain), Curt Stovell, Fiqre Crockwell, Christopher Foggo, Jason Anderson, Irving Romaine, Lionel Cann, Rodney Trott, Deylone Borden, Malachi Jones, Stefan Kelly, Damali Bell, James West, Kyle Hodsall

Hong Kong: Najeeb Amar (captain), Nadeem Ahmed, Irfan Ahmed, Waqas Barkat, Adil Mehmood, Khalid Butt, Asif Khan, Courtney Kruger, Roy Lansam, Mark Chapman, Nizakat Mohammed, Moner Muhammed, Mohammed Khan, Maxwell Tucker

Namibia: Craig Williams (captain), Raymond van Schoor, Ewald Steenkamp, Sarel Burger, Gerrie Snyman, Andries Burger, Bjorn Kotze, Tobias Verwey, Kola Burger, Louis Klazinga, Bernhard Scholtz, Louis van der Westhuizen, Christoffel Viljoen, Helao La France

Papua New Guinea: Rarua Dikana (captain), Chris Amini, Assodallah Vala, Kila Pala, Andrew McIntosh, Willie Gavera, Mahuru Dai, Raymond Haoda, Chris Kent, Jack Vare-Kevere, Tony Ura, Vani Morea, Hitolo Areni, Jason Kila

UAE: Khurram Khan (captain), Mohammed Touqir, Naeem Aslam, Saqib Ali, Arshad Ali, Amjad Ali, Shadeep Silva, Amjad Javed, Nasir Aziz, Qassim Zubair, Ahmed Raza, Swanpil Patil, Irfan Ahmed Sajjad, Shaiman Anwar

Uganda: Mirza Baig (captain), Benjamin Musoke, Roger Mukasa, Laurence Sematimba, Frank Nsubuga, Hamza Almuzahim, Arthur Kyobe, Charles Waiswa, Davis Arinaitwe, Ronald Ssemanda, Deusdedit Muhumuza, Dennis Tabby, Henry Senyondo, Daniel Ruyange

Fixtures:
Apr 8th:
Match 01: UAE v Namibia, DSC Stadium
Match 02: PNG v Bermuda, GCA 1
Match 03: Hong Kong v Uganda, GCA 2

Apr 9th:
Match 04: Uganda v Namibia, DSC Stadium
Match 05: Hong Kong v Bermuda, GCA 1
Match 06: UAE v PNG, GCA 2

Apr 10th:
Rest Day

Apr 11th:
Match 07: Bermuda v Uganda, DSC Stadium
Match 08: UAE v Hong Kong, GCA 1
Match 09: Namibia v PNG, GCA 2

Apr 12th:
Match 10: Hong Kong v PNG, DSC Stadium
Match 11: UAE v Uganda, GCA 1
Match 12: Namibia v Bermuda, GCA 2

Apr 13th:
Rest Day

Apr 14th:
Match 13: UAE v Bermuda, DSC Stadium
Match 14: Hong Kong v Namibia, GCA 1
Match 15: PNG v Uganda, GCA 2

Apr 15th:
Match 16: 5th Place Playoff - TBC v TBC, GCA 2
Match 17: 3rd Place Playoff - TBC v TBC, GCA 1
Match 18: Final - TBC v TBC, DSC Stadium

(Top 4 qualify for WCL - 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers, Scotland 2013 & Top 2 Qualify for Intercontinental Cup)

The top 2 do not reach the IC Cup but ICC will determine a process by which 2 out of top teams will qualify. How and what way ICC still has to tell.

 

[jashan83]

This would be another cracker of a series with most teams at a equal footing. I would be supporting the real teams with home grown players i.e PNG, Namibia, Uganda and Bermuda to perform better and not the expatriate based teams of HK or UAE.

PNG is my favourite teams and I hope they win the tournament.

 

[juro]

Yeah, I think I'll be cheering on PNG. It will be nice if HK do well too so I can pass on the news to some HK people in the office (who don't even realise they have a team).

 

[jashan83]

UAE XI achieve warm-up win ahead of WCL Division 2

A UAE XI warmed up for the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division 2 with an eight-run win over a Bermuda XI.

Batting first, UAE made 251-9 off 50 overs, with Arshad Ali top scoring with 76 off 96 balls. Malachi Jones was the pick of the bowlers with 3-35.

In reply, Bermuda fell just short of its target, finishing on 243-8 off 50 overs. Lionel Cann (73) and Chris Foggo (56) both made half centuries.

 

[jashan83]

Hong Kong prepare for Dubai with Perth training camp

Hong Kong's cricketers have prepared for the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division 2 with a week-long training camp in Perth, where the players had the chance to train alongside the likes of Adam Gilchrist and Brad Hogg.

"It's been a very useful team-bonding experience, the players lived four to an apartment, cooked together, washed together and really came closer together as a group," says national coach Charlie Burke.

Perth native and Western Australia grade cricketer Charlie Burke knew that conditions in his home town would be ideal preparation for the games in Dubai, due to the similarity in conditions.

"The interaction was great and it was a real eye-opener for the boys to see how hard someone like Adam Gilchrist who's retired from international cricket, although he still plays IPL, works. Boxing is a big part of Gilly's workouts and I'm a great believer in it too. It teaches balance, hand-eye co-ordination and discipline," says Hong Kong's coach.

The Pepsi ICC World Cricket League is a pathway for Associates and Affiliates to ICC High Performance training and funding and potential World Cup qualification. April's tournament in Dubai represents Hong Kong's highest position in the global rankings so far and Charlie is under no illusions as to how tough the event will be.

"We have targets and goals for the team and have been planning for this since the end of Division 3. The competition's strong and we've all done all we can to prepare. There's been a squad of 18 players who've been together continuously for the past eight or nine months who have come to understand their role in the side," says the coach.

ACC Development Officer Rumesh Ratnayake's been involved with Hong Kong for some years and is currently with the team in their final tune-ups at home before they head out to Dubai. He says, "They've been building on some improved performances in recent years and what's been a great advance is that they finally seem really committed to working hard at their games. Talent they've always had, now it seems they've got the desire to work on the areas that need improvement and it's good to see."

 

[jashan83]

Williams: Namibia on the right track for WCL Div. 2

Namibia's captain Craig Williams is confident ahead of the side's trip to the UAE for Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division 2 which is being played in Dubai from 8 to 15 April.

"Our squad has been preparing really well even though it hasn't stopped raining for the past three months here in Namibia. We play in South Africa's domestic amateur competition so we've been able to get a lot of competitive games in behind us. We have just come off a three-week tour in SA and are leaving for another week tour to SA in the next few days. The South African sides are extremely competitive and we learn a lot against them," said Williams.

The Namibian captain feels his team has a good knowledge of the sides they will be facing in WCL Div. 2, "We know quite a lot about the UAE, Uganda and Bermudian sides and we are confident we can beat them, Hong Kong and Papua New Guinea will be interesting as I have never played them before, I'm sure though that if we play to our potential and with our pace bowling attack we shouldn't struggle.

"We are taking a really strong squad to the qualifiers, a lot has changed in Namibian cricket since the last qualifiers, we are a lot fitter, stronger and have worked on our one day skills.

"Just like the I-Shield final we have a great balance with bat and ball. JB Burger has returned to our side after a two year break, he can be devastating with the bat. We have a new youngster by the name of Christi Viljoen who is exceptionally quick and will be a handful with the ball at first change after the pace duo of Louis Klazinga and Kola Burger.

"The rest of our side is more or less the same as the I-Shield final team. There are no super heroes in our side, I believe that all 11 players have the ability to take the game away from the opposition and this makes us a strong unit," said Williams.

Namibia recently scored victory over United Arab Emirates in the I-Shield final held in the UAE and the victory was a great boost for the Namibians.

"The I-Shield final was a great boost of moral for our squad, after the last qualifiers and after being relegated out of the I-Cup and into the I-Shield competition, we had to work really hard and rebuild what is now a great squad. The four-day competition is different tactics to the one-day, we are really confident in the 50-over format and Twenty20 cricket and hopefully after this tournament we will receive the chances we are desperate for," said the 27-year-old from Oshakati.

Williams himself has been preparing for the event in his own way: "I have personally been doing a lot of tactical preparation with coach Johan Rudolph, we have been playing around with different combinations over the past three months and believe that we will have the right formula for the start of the tournament. I feel that with a side like we have with so much talent it gives me the opportunity to express myself as a player and play my best game. I'm most looking forward to winning my second trophy for Namibia and securing us a place in the Intercontinental Cup.

"Winning the event will be another step in the ladder towards putting Namibia on the cricketing map. We would love to give the people of Namibia something to be proud of, we believe that we are a competitive one-day and Twenty20 side and that we are moving in the right direction in terms of promoting and developing the game in Namibia," concluded Williams.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Hard to look past the UAE, but hope the Africans do well.

 

[jashan83]

PNG Players Complete Final Melbourne Training Session

Members of the Papua New Guinea Cricket team have completed what will be the last of their Melbourne based training sessions before finalising preparations for World Cricket League (WCL) Division 2 that begins in Dubai on 8 April.

Players from PNG have spent the Australian summer based in both Melbourne and Canberra as part of the Brian Bell Future Stars Scholarship Program, and for the last week these players have come together for a number of training sessions at the MCG's indoor training facility.

The WCL Division 2 event is shaping up as the biggest tournament in the nations cricketing history and PNG opening bowler Hitolo Areni says that his team is not underestimating how difficult their task is going to be.

"After playing so much in Melbourne the hot weather of Dubai will be a huge challenge for us," he said. "It will be important for us to stay focused, put in a consistent effort and do the little things right."

To assist the team to acclimatise to the Middle Eastern conditions, they head to Brisbane on Sunday for a combination of matches and training before spending a few days in Singapore on the way to Dubai where they will take part in some 50 over matches against the Singapore national team, currently ranked eight places below PNG in world rankings.

"We have been preparing really well," said Areni. "The next few weeks are about ensuring that we do everything right to prepare our bodies for what lies ahead."

A lack of familiarity with the opposition will be another challenge for the side who has prepared under the watchful eyes of former Australian test players Andy Bichel and Greg Campbell, with Hong Kong the only of the five other teams in the tournament that PNG have played against in recent times.

"This will be a step above any level we have previously played," said PNG wicket keeper Jack Vare-Kevere. "But having never won (World Cricket League) Division 2 is a huge motivation for us and it would be fantastic for the development of cricket in PNG if we do well."

Both Areni and Vare-Kevere say their experiences playing and training with local clubs in Australia over summer has been of great benefit to the development of the national squad and they hope that it will provide the necessary improvement to make an impact in Dubai.

"It has been great to play and train in another country," said Vare-Kevere. "It has opened us up to different challenges allowing us to learn a lot and improve different areas of our game."

PNG will open their WCL Division 2 campaign on 8 April against Bermuda. Live scores and match reports will be available on International Cricket Council - ICC Members - EAP - Home

 

[jashan83]

Hard to look past the UAE, but hope the Africans do well.

Hi Samuel I find it the other way around. The good contenders for topping the group are PNG, Namibia & HK. Out of UAE, Bermuda & Uganda, I believe Bermuda will come last. It all boils down to competition between UAE and Uganda and I will be supporting the Africans.

Here are the activities in the following countries

1. PNG:- Strong school program. 50,000 children have taken up cricket. Aus has just 20,000 students playing (I am not saying they will be stronger than Aus but just a ref) and they have been regularly playing in Australia for exposure. Also Andy Bichel, former Aus test player as coach. All the players are natives

2. HK:- Focusing of youth. In previous tournaments have give exposure to various youngsters. That policy is helping them.
But they have been importing youth from outside too and loads of their players are from Pak or Aus

3. Uganda:- A strong school program. Infact Rwanda is also participating in their school program and they simply smashed their way through the Africa Div 3. Also focusing on the domestic structure. All the players in team and natives.

4. Namibia:- A strong exposure to team. Their team has been playing in the South African league. They are also the Intercontinental Shield Champions which they won comprehensively

5. UAE:-The legendary former Afghanistan Coach, Kabir Khan has become the UAE coach. They had overcome Uganda and Bermuda in IC shield, New Coach plus the Home Advantage is what they will rely upon

6. Berrmuda:- Since the 2007 WC they seem to have lost form. They have lost their ODI status. They came last in IC Shield. With a population of just 60,000 (Rem PNG has 50,000 Children Playing), their pool is very small. Only plus is their captain who has a huge exposure of playing in the county cricket

 

[jashan83]

Warm-up matches for WCL announced

The ICC has announced the warm-up fixtures for the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division 2.

These matches will form an important part of team's preparation for the tournament which begins in Dubai on Friday 8 April.

4 April - Bermuda v Hong Kong (Dubai)

5 April - Bermuda v Namibia (Dubai)

5 April - UAE v Uganda (Sharjah)

6 April - Hong Kong v Namibia (Dubai)

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Yikes, this had fallen deep.

Anyway, looks like the more updated parts of the forum were right about UAE; they're currently 90/6 chasing a modest Namibian total of 177. Opening bowler Cola Burger has laid off the unhealthy stuff and bowled 10 straight overs taking 2/32, though with six wides.

Current scores

Papua New Guinea 231/9
Tony Ura 52/51, Mahuru Dai 44/49, Vani Morea 46*/84 (shepherded the tail)
Delyone Borden (OB) 3/43 [10]; Damali Bell (LM) 2/33 [6]; Rodney Trott 0/30 [10]
Bermuda 93/3 (25)
Dion Stovell 42/64
Chris Amini (RM) 1/9 [4]

D/L: PNG ahead by 8 runs

Namibia 176 all out (48)
Gerrie Snyman 57/87
Shadeep Silva (SLA, ex-SL) 3/20, Mohammad Tauqir (OB; born in Dubai!) 3/28; Arshad Ali (RM) 3/46; Ahmed Raza (SLA) 0/25 [9]
UAE 90/6 (25)
Khurram Khan 29*/62
Kola Burger (LM) 2/32, Louis Klazinga (RFM) 2/33 [7], Sarel Burger (RMF) 2/17 [6]

D/L: Namibia ahead by 26 runs

Hong Kong 209 all out (50)
Mark Chapman (LHB aged 16!) 70/93, Hussain Butt 55/78
Henry Senyondo (SLA) 2/39, Ronald Ssemanda (RM) 2/35 [6], 3 run outs
Uganda 112/4 (29.2)
Roger Mukasa 52/72, Frankie Nsubaga 37/59
Nizakat Khan (LB) 3/8 [6], Chapman 0/10 [4]
Uganda were 88/1 until Nizakat came on and turned the match.

D/L: Uganda ahead by 18 runs

 

[jashan83]

All 3 matches are in very interesting position. The match can tilt in any direction. Following all 3 of them

I am supporting
Namibia to defeat UAE
PNG to defeat Bermuda
Uganda to defeat HK

I hope it happens that way.

 

[jashan83]

Nizakar Khan of HK is on fire. He just took his 4th wicket. His figure look like

8-3-11-4.

Come on Uganda. Just face him off and win this match. You have to do it for extra funding

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Just one more over from Nizakar.

Meanwhile Namibia bring on their fifth-bowling spinner in their 31st over. So much for adapting to the conditions.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

54 required off 63 balls for Uganda. Stiff run rate with only five wickets in hand.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Uganda crash into a pressure-induced heap ( ) while Khurram Khan does what he's done since about 2004, save a UAE innings. Still 27 required though, hopefully his batting partner will miss a straight one.

 

[Spikey]

4 runs to win.....

(kiss of death coming up)

 

[Magrat Garlick]

4 runs to win.....

(kiss of death coming up)

The #11 hits the winning boundary.

Namibia need a spinner in these conditions, it seems.

Hong Kong won by 26 and PNG are cruising to a 40-run win at least.

 

[jashan83]

Just one of the 3 desired teams winning.

UAE defeat Namibia by just 1 Wicket

HK defeat Uganda by just 26 Runs

And

What I wanted the most

PNG defeat Bermuda by 43 runs.


PNG in recent 1-1.5 years have introdcued the sports into their school with 50000 Children playing. Their team like Nepal, Uganda, Kenya is fully made of local people who are citizens and passport holder. Australia just has 20000 Students playing and they have 50K. I am not saying they will become better but I see a bright future. If they win and reach the IC Cup then the exposure will take them miles. Wishing them best of luck