Short and to the point.

posted by John Winn

The ICC 2007 World Cup lasted just two days short of seven weeks, which according to Wisden was 'as long as the last Olympic Games and football World Cup put together'. If you prefer your cricket tournaments to be more concise than this then may I draw your attention to the World T20 qualifers which begin in UAE next week and in the course of twelve days and seventy two matches will reduce sixteen teams to two, who will qualify to be part of the World T20 to be played later this year.
The first games are on Tuesday when there are four games in Pool A and four in Pool B. Nothing like getting off to a quick start and the pace does not let up for there is cricket every day up to and including the 20th apart from a rest day on the 17th. The group games conclude on the 20th and the deciding playoffs are from the 22nd to the 24th inclusive. A full list of matches is available on the 'Cricket Europe' website together with squad lists. Familiar names include Porterfield, Rankin and O'Brien for Ireland,Coetzer for Scotland and from a Durham member's viewpoint the most interesing, Michael di Venuto for Italy.Reports, results and tables will also appear on the website.Six games in the latter stages will be televised by ESPN and fourteen group matches will be streamed by Quipu TV, a Scottish multi media company.