The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced League 2 for 2023 Cricket World Cup qualifiers has begun, with Scotland, Papua New Guinea and Oman playing the inaugural series at Mannofield Park in Scotland.
The League 2 will be played in the span of two and half-years amongst seven team and will have 126 matches, spanning across 21 series.
“League 2 sees 126 One Day Internationals (ODIs) played across 21 tri-series and sits in the new four-year qualification structure for the Men’s Cricket World Cup qualification, which is now a four-year cycle, one month after England overcame New Zealand in the dramatic 2019 Final at Lord’s Cricket Ground,” said ICC in a media release.
“The Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 which is two steps from India 2023 and sits beneath the Men’s CWC Super League. League 2 provides more competitive cricket for the seven teams, Namibia, Nepal, Oman, PNG, Scotland, UAE and USA, with each team playing 36 ODIs over two and half years from August 2019 to January 2022.
“From 14 – 21 August, Scotland, PNG and Oman will play the inaugural series in Mannofield Park which includes four ODIs for each team, worth 2 points per ODI which will contribute to the Men’s CWC League 2 table. After the 21 tri-series have been completed the three top teams with will confirm their place in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2022,” continued ICC.
“The bottom four teams will drop into the Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier Play-Off 2022 – which is a repechage event to the Global Qualifier- and will be joined by the winner of Challenge League A and B. The top two teams from the Play-Off will keep their hopes alive of participating in India 2023, by qualifying for the Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2022,” added the cricket’s governing body.
Chris Tetley, ICC Head of Events, was delighted to announce the tournament and seemed excited about four years of competitive 50-over cricket around the world.
“The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup provided us with great entertainment and competitive cricket, I am delighted to see the start of the qualification process to India 2023. The new structure has given meaningful context to bilateral cricket for the Men’s Cricket World Super League, but also more competitive opportunities to Associate Members,” said Tetley.
“Men’s CWC League 2 gives the seven competing teams, 36 One Day Internationals across two and half years and providing a real cricket calendar for Associate Members. The Challenge Leagues A and B will provide the opportunity for Associate teams ranked 21-36 to continue to play competitive cricket and give teams the opportunity to climb the ladder. It will be an exciting four years of cricket in the lead up to the next ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup,” concluded Tetley.
Feature Image Courtesy: Twitter- @Cricket_PNG
