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The International Cricket Council has decided that the ICC World Twenty20 2010 Qualifiers will be organised in UAE later this year. The Twenty20 2010 Qualifiers is scheduled to take place in late October. The ICC has also expanded the number of participating teams by including host UAE and USA. It means that the tournament will feature a total of eight teams -Ireland, Canada, Kenya, the Netherlands, Afghanistan, UAE and USA.
The two top teams of the qualifying tournament will be allowed to play in next year's main tournament, scheduled to be held in the West Indies by April. All these decision were taken at ICC Development Committee meeting in Dubai this week. Commenting on the new decision, ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said that the new move of summoning the UAE and USA to join the top six Associate and Affiliate teams at the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier will expand and promote cricket all over the world. Next year's ICC World Twenty20 tournament will feature as many as ten teams.
According to Haroon Lorgat, it will be a great opportunity for UAE to showcase its excellent cricket facilities and to generate additional interest in the game within the country. On the other hand, USA will be able to exploit the dynamics of T20 format by getting a chance to participate in ICC qualifiers. The ICC chief feels that USA will pick up the best squad for the tournament in UAE.
