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European Sub Regional Qualifier begins in Germany with hiccup
08 Jul, 2024
Of the two grounds earmarked for the Sub Regional Europe Qualifier B being played in Germany, the one at Gelsenkirchen had an unsatisfactory outfield leaving all 24 matches for the ground in Krefeld
Following Italy’s triumph in June 2024 in the Europe Sub Regional Qualifier A, which enabled the continental team to move to next year’s Europe Qualifier for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, the Sub Regional Europe Qualifier B got underway in Germany with 10 teams in fray though not without a hiccup.
The tournament, which included 10 teams — Belgium, Croatia, Gibraltar, Jersey, Norway, Serbia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland besides Germany, was scheduled to take place in two cities, Gelsenkirchen and Krefeld.
However, the outfield in Gelsenkirchen was deemed unsuitable, leaving all the 24 matches to be played in Krefeld.
“Tournament Schedule Update: Due to some ongoing issues with the outfield at Gelsenkirchen Cricket Ground, a decision has been reached to amend the playing schedule, as outlined below. All group stage fixtures will now be played at Krefeld Cricket Ground,” wrote ICC Europe on X (formerly Twitter).
The tournament, which began on July 7, will run till July 14 when the final will be played.
“The format of the event sees an initial group stage featuring two groups of five. A series of round-robin fixtures will precede the playoff matches on Sunday 14 July, which will include a winner-takes-all encounter between the top two teams with a ticket to the next round of qualification up for grabs,” said the International Cricket Council (ICC) in a statement ahead of the tournament.
“With the thrilling action of the recently concluded ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 in the USA and West Indies still fresh in the memory, the event in Germany promises to provide plenty of drama as teams strive for the chance to compete for the ultimate prize in T20 cricket in India and Sri Lanka in 2026,” the ICC added.
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 will feature 20 teams, with 12 automatic qualifiers and eight teams that qualify through regional pathway events.
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Europe cricket, Germany, ICC